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The Front Porch Blog

Reliance on fossil fuels was last year’s Grinch that stole Christmas — and the real cause of Winter Storm Elliot blackouts

On Dec. 24, 2022, as Winter Storm Elliot bore down on North Carolina and Tennessee, problems at fossil-fuel power plants and high electricity demand led Duke Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority to shut off power for millions with rolling blackouts. But it didn’t have to be this way.

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Communities continue to seek safety measures for Mountain Valley Pipeline

A large, partially buried, green pipe lays half submerged in water in a trench. Other pipe is visible off to the sides of the trench.

Along the route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, citizen monitors have watched a frenzy of workers hurriedly lower sun-bleached and degraded pipe into trenches, burying as much material as possible. Although safety concerns led the agency tasked with pipe safety, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, to issue a consent agreement, the agreement has not brought peace of mind.

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No time to waste averting another coal mine cleanup crisis

Regulators are ignoring a growing crisis unfolding in modern mine reclamation. Coal companies are often failing to complete timely reclamation, and safeguards to ensure mine cleanup are failing. Communities are already seeing a new, more devastating wave of abandoned mines — a problem that will get worse without action.

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ReImagining Your Community with the help of EPA’s Environmental and Justice Community Change Grants

The EPA’s Community Change Grants could be an opportunity to engage key community stakeholders in strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to promote climate resilience, and to simultaneously create good jobs for local residents. Check out the ReImagine Your Community resource page for resources to help guide community visioning and project development.

Proposals to put new nuclear reactors near coal mine sites ignore geological hazards

In October 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a goal of building a new nuclear reactor in Southwest Virginia within the next 10 years, setting off a flurry of excitement among local economic development officials and outrage among local residents who are concerned about the health and safety risks of nuclear power.

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Community celebrates opening of new recreation area in Dante, Virginia

A group of locals and officials celebrate the opening of new Dante recreation area with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

This new recreation area features approximately 16 miles of new trails that will connect to existing trails around the nearby town of Saint Paul, and the campground features full amenities.

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In a moment of climate crisis, Dominion wants to move Virginia backwards

These developments support the Virginia-wide shift towards clean, renewable energy and Dominion Energy had seemingly embraced this transition, expanding its own solar and wind facilities. But, alarmingly Dominion is now trying to reverse course in Chesterfield and construct a new harmful methane gas “peaker” plant, mere miles from the old plant.

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Movements to stop TVA’s gas buildout gain momentum ahead of critical year

no gas buildout in the tennessee valley

Campaigns to stop Tennessee Valley Authority’s proposed methane gas buildout are closing out 2023 with some major developments and eyeing next year as pivotal.

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Guest post: Apply for a bonus 10 to 20% credit for solar project funding

solar panels on roof

Low-income communities across Appalachia can apply for a bonus 10 to 20% tax credit available to eligible solar projects. There’s a limited priority application window for this tax credit, which can be stacked on top of other solar incentives!

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What’s going on with Duke Energy?

Duke Energy is the largest electricity provider in North Carolina, and we believe Duke is not doing enough to help with increasing renewable energy in the state or keeping energy bills low for all customers.

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