Front Porch Blog
RECLAIM Act back in Congress
The bill to expedite spending of $1 billion in coal-impacted communities to repurpose old mine sites for new economic projects has been reintroduced into Congress with bipartisan support.
Read MoreAppalachians testify in Congress to end mountaintop removal
Residents of coal-impacted communities went to Washington, D.C., to share how strip mines have affected their lives and to support a moratorium on destructive strip mining.
Read MoreCoal ash cleanup decision a huge victory for North Carolina!
On April 1, North Carolina announced its decision to require Duke Energy to fully excavate the six remaining coal ash sites across the state — a big victory in the year’s long fight against the energy utility’s negligence.
Read MoreBanning fracking worldwide
An international tribunal on human rights, fracking and climate change is calling for a worldwide ban on fracking. The community of Union Hill, Va., helped play a role in this historic occasion.
Read MoreProjects to reclaim old coal sites get $10 million in federal grants
Ten economic development projects in Southwest Virginia have been selected to receive $10 through the Abandoned Mine Land Pilot Program, including a multi-use trail and a commercial solar farm.
Read MoreCoalition explores innovative mine reclamation solutions in West Virginia
Members of the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition visited an abandoned mine in Mingo County, W.Va., slated to become the site of a solar-powered aquaponics agriculture facility.
Read MoreGood – and not-so-good – mine reclamation projects
Congress has funded “pilot” projects to repurpose old coal sites in Appalachia for three years; the results show a clear need for a strong RECLAIM Act grounded in community-driven goals and environmental cleanup.
Read MoreBankrupt Westmoreland Coal granted permission to sever worker agreements
A federal bankruptcy judge ruled that Westmoreland Coal Company can back out of its collective bargaining agreements with current workers and retirees as soon as Feb. 28, putting pensions and health benefits for thousands of people at risk.
Read MoreTakeaways from the TVA quarterly meeting
Increased public participation but continued gaps in transparency marked TVA’s recent quarterly meeting, which included a vote to close two of the utility’s coal plants.
Read MoreIt’s time for energy justice in North Carolina
Residents and organizations joined in Raleigh, N.C., to launch the Energy Justice North Carolina: End the Duke Monopoly coalition to promote energy choice and end monopoly control of the state’s utility structure.
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