Press Releases
Community groups and A&G Coal Corporation reach settlement on coal mine reclamation
Today, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, Appalachian Voices and the Sierra Club announced a settlement with A&G Coal Corporation, owned by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, to help ensure the reclamation of three large surface coal mines in Wise County, Virginia.
Read MoreTennessee Valley Authority CEO wants another gas plant after fossil fuel failures during winter storm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2023 CONTACT Ricky Junquera, Clean Up TVA Coalition, team@cleanuptva.org WASHINGTON — The Tennessee Valley Authority made a final decision today on the retirement and replacement of the Cumberland Fossil Plant, electing to move forward with a new 1,450 megawatt gas plant and 32-mile pipeline. This decision comes soon after TVA…
Read MoreEPA proposes moderate improvements for public health; must do more
The proposal is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go nearly far enough. In Appalachia, our people are breathing fugitive mine dust and toxic emissions from numerous industries. Time and again, state regulatory practices have fallen short in curbing the impacts of these industries. Fugitive coal mine dust in particular has not been regulated in any meaningful way. EPA can and should do more to protect our health.
Read MoreCarbon Plan must account for affordability
Yesterday evening, the North Carolina Utilities Commission approved several measures to lower carbon emissions in North Carolina. The commission chose to focus on short term plans and therefore not pick any single portfolio or generation mix, the plan falls far short of what the law that started this process allowed and what could have been accomplished.
Read MoreStatement on rolling blackouts in areas served by the Tennessee Valley Authority
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 24, 2022 CONTACT: Bri Knisley, Tennessee Campaign Manager, bri@appvoices.org Molly Moore, Director of Program Communications, molly@appvoices.org During this weekend’s unusually low temperatures, people whose power is produced by the Tennessee Valley Authority and Duke Energy have experienced coordinated, rolling electricity blackouts to reduce electricity demand and prevent major grid outages that…
Read MoreFinal budget bill includes unprecedented AMLER investment and STREAM Act, but neglects critically needed black lung benefits improvements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2022 Contact: Trey Pollard, trey@pollardcommunications.com COAL COUNTRY — Today, Congress finally passed FY2023 appropriations legislation and secured two major victories for coal-impacted communities. The omnibus appropriations legislation passed today included the STREAM Act and an unprecedented $135 million investment in the AMLER program — but, the Black Lung Benefits Improvement…
Read MoreRemember Kingston: Communities set up billboards and newspaper ad to honor cleanup workers on the 14th anniversary of the Kingston Coal Ash Spill
Four “Remember Kingston” billboards have been set up on major highways surrounding Knoxville to honor the hundreds of workers who cleaned up the Kingston Coal Ash Spill along with a full page ad in the Roane County News.
Read MoreCommunity advocates urge Congress to include key coal community investments in forthcoming budget legislation
Congressional appropriations leaders are preparing to release omnibus spending legislation for FY2023 today, and community advocates from across coal country are urging them to ensure several long-standing priority investments are included. Advocates argue that the omnibus legislation is an important opportunity to get three key provisions over the finish line.
Read MoreSenate passes amended STREAM Act and sends it back to House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2022 CONTACT Chelsea Barnes, chelsea@appvoices.org Dan Radmacher, dan@appvoices.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, by unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate passed the Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from Abandoned Mines Act that will ensure that billions of dollars in new money for abandoned coal mine cleanup can be used…
Read MoreU.S. Senate excludes Sen. Joe Manchin’s Building American Energy Security Act from National Defense Authorization Act
For immediate release: December 15, 2022 Contacts: Chelsea Barnes, Legislative Director, chelsea@appvoices.org Molly Moore, Director of Program Communications, molly@appvoices.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate rejected an amendment that would have added Sen. Joe Manchin’s proposed Building American Energy Security Act (BAESA) to “must-pass” national defense legislation. As written, the BAESA attempts to override…
Read More