Press Releases
Coal community advocates bash cuts to federal mine reclamation funding and urge restoration in FY25 budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2024 CONTACT Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com READ LETTER HERE COAL COUNTRY – As Congress advances a government funding bill that slashes millions in funding for the agency charged with supporting critical mine reclamation projects and enforcing mine reclamation standards, seventeen local, regional and national organizations released a letter urging Congress…
Read MoreOpportunities for clean energy development in Appalachia from Inflation Reduction Act and other federal investments highlighted during White House event
In an event highlighting investments secured through the American Rescue Plan Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act in Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky, Appalachian Solar Finance Fund Director Autumn Long discussed how the fund’s work and impact have been amplified by federal investment in Central Appalachian states.
Read MoreUpper South and Appalachia Citizen Air Monitoring Project begins data collection
With funding from the EPA, Appalachian Voices purchased dozens of PurpleAir PM sensors, and distributed these to individuals and grassroots organizations in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Read MoreTVA plows ahead with plans for Kingston gas plant, ignores clean energy alternatives
On Friday, the Tennessee Valley Authority announced it will move forward with plans to build a new gas plant and pipeline, forcing families in the Tennessee Valley to foot the bill for the polluting and outdated fossil fuel infrastructure.
Read MoreAdvocates release policy platform to give Congress a plan to stop zombie mines
Today, advocates from across coal-mining communities released a new federal policy platform that serves as a road map to address and prevent unreclaimed “zombie mines” — idled modern-era mines that have not been cleaned up by the responsible coal companies.
Read MorePRESS ADVISORY: Advocates to release policy platform to stop zombie mines
On Feb. 15, advocates from across coal-mining communities will unveil a new federal policy platform that serves as a road map to address and prevent unreclaimed “zombie mines” — idled modern-era mines that have not been cleaned up by the responsible coal companies. Endorsed by 48 community and national organizations, the policy platform will offer an array of new recommended solutions to thwart the continued zombie mine crisis.
Read MoreNEW analysis: Black lung benefits fall dramatically behind cost of living for sick miners and their families
A new analysis from Appalachian Voices and Appalachian Citizens Law Center finds that the cost of living is significantly higher than black lung benefits payments received by many miners with black lung and their families, illustrating the urgent need for congressional action to update how benefits are calculated and deployed.
Read MoreEPA strengthens air pollution rules for particulate matter
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strengthened air pollution rules for particulate matter pollution, as it released its final National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Read MoreLegislation to ban cyanide in mining operations passes House unanimously
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 2024 CONTACT Stephanie Rinaldi, Press Pause Coalition, presspauseva@gmail.com Richmond, Va. — Yesterday, two pieces of legislation developed from concerns of Virginians faced with impacts from exploratory drilling for metals and future large-scale metal mining operations passed the Virginia House of Delegates. The first piece of legislation, HB 84, which would…
Read MoreExperts, community target Tennessee Valley Authority’s energy plan Thursday in Nashville
Advocacy groups will hold a public hearing Thursday on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s 2024 long-term energy plan.
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