Press Releases
NC governor extends moratorium on utility shutoffs during Covid crisis
CONTACT: Al Ripley, Director, NC Justice Center, Director of Housing, Consumer and Energy Project, 919-274-8245 Rory McIlmoil, Appalachian Voices, Senior Energy Analyst, 828-266-1500 Tyler Fitch, Vote Solar, Southeast Regulatory Manager; Press contact Hilary Lewis, 202-455-0361 Luis Martinez, Natural Resources Defense Council, Senior Attorney and Director Southeast Energy; Press contact Maria Michalos, 631-848-1588 N.C. Governor Roy…
Read MoreGroups urge expansion of NC utility shutoff moratorium during Covid-19
CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, Sr. Energy Analyst, Appalachian Voices, rory@appvoices.org, (423) 433-9415 Maria Michalos, Eastern Regional Communications Manager, Natural Resources Defense Council, mmichalos@nrdc.org, (631) 848-1588 Al Ripley, Director, Consumer, Housing and Energy Project, NC Justice Center, al@ncjustice.org, (919) 274-8245 Hilary Lewis, Communications Director, Vote Solar, hilary@votesolar.org, (202) 455-0361 *NOTE: The letter to the governor was updated…
Read MoreVirginia opens the door for independent proposals for solar projects in Southwest Virginia
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes 276-207-9636 chelsea@appvoices.org Cat McCue 434-293-6373 cat@appvoices.org The Virginia State Corporation Commission has announced that it is re-opening acceptance of registrations for third-party, non-utility owners of solar generation through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The pilot program has been closed to registrations since January when the previous state limit on such arrangements was reached.…
Read MorePublic interest groups unite to form Duke Energy watchdog
CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, Sr. Energy Analyst, rory@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Sr. Communications & Public Engagement Strategist, cat@appvoices.org WASHINGTON – A coalition of public interest, social justice, watchdog and environmental groups are joining forces to hold Duke Energy, the largest investor-owned U.S. electric utility, accountable for its policies, which impact almost 8 million Americans in six states…
Read MoreCoal miners call on Congress for support amidst dual threats from black lung and COVID-19
CONTACT: Rebecca Shelton, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, rshelton@aclc.org Willie Dodson, Appalachian Voices, willie@appvoices.org (NOTE: Several miners and their family members are available for interviews; images are also available; please contact Rebecca or Willie.) The president of the Black Lung Association (BLA), members of Women of Black Lung, and officers of eleven local BLA chapters across…
Read MoreOld Dominion Power raises rates on Southwest Virginians amid economic crisis
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes New Economy Program Manager chelsea@appvoices.org 276-679-1691 The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved a rate increase request from Old Dominion Power, which will add about $20 to average residential monthly bills in its Southwest Virginia service effective May 1. The move came despite a plea from the region’s state legislators that the…
Read MoreVa governor signs pipeline bill that protects consumers
CONTACT: Cat McCue 434-293-6373 cat@appvoices.org This week, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law HB 167, which protects utility customers from paying for large new gas pipeline costs if the State Corporation Commission (SCC) determines that new pipeline capacity is not necessary for reliability and is not the least-cost way to meet electricity demand. Delegate…
Read MoreSouthwest Virginia seeks partners for solar development
CONTACT: Adam Wells, Regional Director of Community and Economic Development, adam@appvoices.org, 276-679-1691 Norton, VA — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia today released a Request for Information (RFI) for a “co-development concept” for commercial-scale solar projects throughout the seven-county coalfield region. The workgroup seeks to enter into an agreement to collaboratively identify, design and develop…
Read MoreGroups call for stop to electricity cutoffs in Tennessee Valley due to pandemic
CONTACT: Daniel Tait, Energy Alabama dtait@alcse.org (256) 812-1431 Bri Knisley, Appalachian Voices brianna@appvoices.org (865) 219-3225 More than a dozen organizations in Tennessee and Alabama have called on the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association (TVPPA) to urge its member utilities to immediately halt service disconnection and late fees for families during the coronavirus pandemic. In a…
Read MoreNC governor orders halt to utility shutoffs during pandemic
CONTACT: Al Ripley, Director Consumer, Housing and Energy Project NC Justice Center (919) 274-8245 al@ncjustice.org Rory McIlmoil, Senior Energy Analyst Appalachian Voices (828) 262-3385 rory@appvoices.org Today, Gov. Roy Cooper announced an order directing all electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities operating in the state to suspend service shutoffs, late payment fees and reconnection fees to…
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