Front Porch Blog
Blackjewel’s black lung problem
Bankrupt coal company Blackjewel owes nearly $10 million in taxes to the fund that provides benefits to miners with black lung disease whose employer has gone bankrupt.
Read MoreCitizen scientists uncover water quality violations in Kentucky national forest
Citizen scientists discovered that acid mine drainage is causing a creek in Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest to flow a bright orange, and they spurred state regulators to issue citations to the mine operators. But mining company Revelation Energy is in bankruptcy, which leaves big questions about who will clean up the mess — and when.
Read MoreOld Dominion Power rate proposal would harm Southwest Virginia communities
Old Dominion Power is seeking a massive rate increase, which would increase average residential electricity bills by nearly $29 per month and make it more difficult for Southwest Virginia businesses and residents to access solar power. Now is your chance to speak up!
Read MoreSouthwest Virginia’s natural resources present new opportunities and challenges
Join us for a discussion on how we can leverage ecotourism into a burgeoning new economy for the region!
Read MoreSouthwest Virginia takes powerful steps to advance solar energy
A big week for solar energy in Southwest Virginia includes celebrating eight communities for their advancements in solar and the announcement of a substantial grant to build a big solar project on a former mine site.
Read MoreCoal miners visit D.C. to urge Congress to act on Black Lung legislation
More than 150 coal miners or their widows and loved ones traveled to D.C. in July to call for action on black lung legislation.
Read MoreOver 100 Miners Heading to Washington to Advocate for Black Lung Benefits
Over 100 miners from across the Appalachian region are traveling to Washington D.C. this week to lobby lawmakers on a number of issues related to black lung disease, a fatal respiratory condition caused by continuous exposure to harmful dust and rock particles in and around coal mines.
Read MoreBlackjewel’s bankruptcy looks like bad news for workers and mine cleanup
Appalachia’s latest coal bankruptcy looks different than others — mines shut down immediately and paychecks were clawed back from employees’ bank accounts. We take a look at what the Blackjewel and Revelation Energy bankruptcy could mean for mine land reclamation.
Read MoreCustomer-owned utilities should be leaders on clean energy. Why do most of them fail to deliver?
Clean energy expert Ivy Main looks at how a lack of transparency and democracy at many Virginia electric cooperatives is causing them to fall behind on renewable energy. Member-owners at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative are trying to change that.
Read MoreMountain Valley Pipeline soils all in its path
Trained citizen monitors in Va. and W.Va. have documented hundreds of violations and possible violations from construction along the Mountain Valley Pipeline. They continue calling for an immediate stop-work order from regulators.
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