Front Porch Blog
Westmoreland Coal’s Appalachian connection
In October 2018, the oldest coal company in the United States filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While now largely operating in the western United States, Westmoreland has many ties to Southwest Virginia.
Read More100 sign letter to Va. air board to reject frack-gas facility in African-American community
Environmental justice advocates Karenna Gore, Mustafa Santiago Ali, Don Cheadle and Ed Begley, Jr. were among the 100 people who signed a letter to Va. regulators urging a denial of huge compressor station in the largely African-American community of Union Hill.
Read MoreCentral Appalachia’s newest coal boss facing bankruptcies
Virginia businessman Tom Clarke’s foray into the coal industry initially looked promising for addressing environmental and community problems. Now, however, his business model is looking questionable.
Read MoreVirginia electric co-ops fight to keep doors closed to members
Rural electric co-ops were set up as democratic institutions, but have increasingly become unresponsive to their customers, who are also owner-members. In Virginia, members of two co-ops are challenging the status quo.
Read MoreCoal industry sees bankruptcies and exports in volatile 2018
Some coal companies appear to be banking on opportunities for short-term gain with metallurgical coal, but the metallurgical market can only prop up the industry for so long.
Read MoreArmy Corps suspends stream crossing permit for entire Atlantic Coast Pipeline
An essential permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline was suspended on Wednesday, effectively shutting down work at more than 1,500 stream and wetland crossings along the fracked gas line’s 600-mile route.
Read MoreGov. Northam dismisses regulators who expressed concerns about pipelines
In shocking move, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam dismissed three regulators from state permitting boards who had expressed concerns about the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines.
Read MoreBlue Ridge Energy’s solar policies among the worst in Southeast
A new report shows that Blue Ride Energy has some of the worst solar policies in the Southeast. That’s why we created a petition calling on Blue Ridge to support solar access and increase the cooperative’s transparency with its member-owners.
Read MoreRevitalizing Ouachita: How One Electric Co-op is Moving Forward
Ouachita Electric Cooperative in Arkansas offers programs that make energy efficiency and high-speed internet accessible and affordable, and is using solar to help grow the local economy and save money. If Ouachita can do it, what’s stopping other electric co-ops from following suit?
Read MoreVirginia ignores risk, allows Atlantic Coast Pipeline work
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality approved Clean Water Act permits for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, brushing off concerns from the Governor’s Advisory Council on Environmental Justice.
Read More