Press Releases
FERC orders halt to Mountain Valley Pipeline construction
CONTACTS: Doug Jackson, Sierra Club, 202-495-3045, doug.jackson@sierraclub.org Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Jared Margolis, Center for Biological Diversity, 802-310-4054, jmargolis@biologicaldiversity.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Late yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC to halt construction activities along the entire 303-mile route of the fracked-gas project. FERC’s order is in response…
Read MoreTenn. electric co-op members condemn board’s actions
CONTACTS: Bri Knisley, Appalachian Voices Tennessee Field Coordinator 865-219-3225, brianna@apvoices.org Ewing, VA.- Actions by leadership at Powell Valley Electric Cooperative (PVEC) during the co-op’s annual membership meeting last Saturday have left many member-owners outraged at what they are calling an abuse of power. The leadership mischaracterized their proposed amendment to the co-op’s bylaws in order…
Read MoreComplaint filed against Duke Energy with NC elections board
CONTACTS: Rory McIlmoil, 828-262-1500, rory@appvoices.org Cat McCue, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Former Democracy North Carolina Executive Director Bob Hall submitted a complaint to the State Board of Elections today requesting an investigation into an alleged coverup of illegal campaign contributions from the Duke Energy Corporation Political Action Committee. The complaint states that Duke’s PAC violated state law…
Read MoreVirginia Gov. Northam announces climate goals for 2050
CONTACTS: Cat McCue, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Today, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed Executive Order 43, setting a goal for the commonwealth to achieve 100 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2050. Statement from Appalachian Voices Executive Director Tom Cormons: This announcement from the Northam administration underscores that Virginia must chart a course for a cleaner, healthier and more…
Read MoreSouthwest Va. groups join in with world’s largest grassroots solar event
CONTACTS: Austin Counts, Appalachian Voices, 276-679-1691, austin@appvoices.org Wise County, Va. – The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia joins the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and hundreds of solar installers and grassroots organizations throughout America to showcase thousands of solar-powered homes, schools and businesses for the 24th Annual National Solar Tour, the world’s largest grassroots…
Read MoreFederal agency must re-do review of endangered species impacts of Mountain Valley Pipeline
CONTACTS: Doug Jackson, 202-495-3045, doug.jackson@sierraclub.org Cat McCue, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today requested that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service re-initiate consultation on its Endangered Species Act permit for the fracked-gas Mountain Valley Pipeline. Because the project does not have a valid Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement from the wildlife agency,…
Read MoreN.C. senators on joint committee reviewing controversial utility bill get top dollar from Duke Energy
CONTACTS: Rory McIlmoil, Appalachian Voices, rory@appvoices.org, 423-433-9415 Jim Warren, NC WARN, jim@ncwarn.org, 919-416-5077 The state Senate vote yesterday on Duke Energy’s highly controversial “alternative ratemaking” bill and subsequent appointments to a conference committee clearly show the utility company’s undue influence over the legislative and public policy process, said the Energy Justice for North Carolina (EJNC)…
Read MoreCommunity discussion focuses on ecotourism in Southwest Virginia
CONTACTS: Tyler Hughes, Appalachian Voices 276-679-1691 or tyler@appvoices.org The New Economy Network of Southwest Virginia and Appalachian Voices hosted a community discussion on ecotourism in Pennington Gap today. The meeting was free and open to the public. The community discussion featured a panel of local residents who have been directly involved with ecotourism in Southwest…
Read MoreResponse to N.C. House passage of Duke Energy’s rate hike bill
CONTACTS: Cat McCue, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Josh McClenney, 919-454-1560, josh@appvoices.org Today the North Carolina House of Representatives voted to pass SB559 with an amendment requiring a study of the most controversial provisions. One of the provisions is a multi-year rate plan that critics say could cost ratepayers an additional $23 billion in coming years with reduced…
Read MoreCommunity discussion to focus on ecotourism in Southwest Virginia
CONTACTS: Tyler Hughes New Economy Program Manager, Appalachian Voices 276-207-8686, tyler@appvoices.org The New Economy Network of Southwest Virginia and Appalachian Voices are hosting a community discussion on ecotourism in Pennington Gap on Tuesday, August 27. The meeting is free and refreshments will be served. The community discussion will feature a panel of local residents who…
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