Press Releases
Mountain Valley Pipeline faces new legal challenge to water permit
Richmond, VA — A new legal action filed today challenges Virginia’s State Water Control Board approval of a key water quality permit for the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline. The petition for review of the project was filed with the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond.
Read MoreState Corporation Commission rejects Chickahominy Pipeline’s plan for 83-mile unregulated gas pipeline
Today the Virginia State Corporation Commission rejected plans from Chickahominy Pipeline, LLC, to construct an unregulated gas pipeline 83 miles from Louisa County to a proposed gas-fired power plant in Charles City County, instead determining that the company is a public utility subject to Commission regulation. The Southern Environmental Law Center represented Concerned Citizens of Charles City County, Hanover Citizens Against A Pipeline, Appalachian Voices, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation in the case.
Read MoreFailure to pass Build Back Better delays key investments for Appalachia; cuts black lung benefits funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, President Joe Biden released a statement making clear that the U.S. Senate would head home for the holidays without passing the Build Back Better bill, which includes crucial investments for Appalachian communities. Among those investments left on the table is the extension of the Black Lung Excise tax at current rates.…
Read MoreNew tool helps track large number of mine permits set to be voided in Blackjewel bankruptcy
Appalachian Voices has created a web page designed to help concerned residents, reporters and regulators track the status of mines caught up in the Blackjewel bankruptcy where the permits will become void once the Blackjewel companies cease to exist at the end of the year.
Read MoreVirginia Water Board Approves Key Permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline But Fight Will Continue
CONTACT: Denali Nalamalapu, (302) 307-6966, denali@powhr.org Dan Radmacher, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org Richmond, VA — Today, the Virginia State Water Control Board approved a water permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) via a 3-2 vote, finalizing state approval for the MVP to build across hundreds of Virginia waterways. The Board is an independent regulatory body…
Read MoreAir Board denies key permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline, dealing critical blow to beleaguered fracked gas project
Contact Jessica Sims, jessica@appvoices.org Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org Chatham, VA — Today, in a victory for environmental justice, the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board voted 6-1 to deny the air quality permit for the proposed Lambert Compressor Station. The station would have connected the beleaguered Mountain Valley Pipeline to a proposed ‘Southgate’ extension into North Carolina.…
Read MorePOSTPONED: Miners with black lung launch two weeks of demonstrations urging Sen. Capito to back 10-year extension of Black Lung Excise Tax
Contact Trey Pollard, 202-904-9187, trey@pollardcommunications.com Due to inclement weather and the increased risk it poses to people with black lung, these demonstrations have been postponed. This press release was updated at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6. CHARLESTON, WV — Today, the National Black Lung Association announced it would hold two weeks of daily demonstrations to…
Read MoreHouse vote gives Senate an opportunity to spur clean energy investments in Appalachia
CONTACT: Molly Moore, Appalachian Voices Communications, (847) 401-3633, molly@appvoices.org Dana Kuhnline, Legislative Coordinator, (304) 825-3262, dana@appvoices.org Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, a bill that, if passed by the U.S. Senate, will deliver significant investments in Appalachian families and workers and create jobs bringing cleaner energy to our communities…
Read MoreU.S. makes largest-ever investment in abandoned mine cleanup
CONTACT: Matt Hepler, Appalachian Voices Central Appalachian Environmental Scientist, (540) 871-1564, matt@appvoices.org Molly Moore, Appalachian Voices Communications, (847) 401-3633, molly@appvoices.org The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act President Biden is expected to sign into law today includes the nation’s largest-ever investment in cleaning up decades-old abandoned coal mines. The bill reauthorizes the Abandoned Mine Land (AML)…
Read MoreGroups file complaint that Duke Energy rigged net metering process to push plan to undermine rooftop solar power in NC
CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, 423-433-9415, rory@appvoices.org Jim Warren, 919-416-5077, jim@ncwarn.org Durham, NC – Two clean energy groups today filed a complaint with state regulators about a stakeholder process they say was rigged to favor a Duke Energy scheme that would harm small-scale solar power companies and Duke Energy customers across North Carolina. NC WARN and Appalachian…
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