Press Releases
FERC faces another legal challenge over Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Charlottesville, VA— The Southern Environmental Law Center and Appalachian Mountain Advocates filed a challenge in federal court on behalf of 11 conservation groups, including Appalachian Voices, challenging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision to permit the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. “FERC demonstrated in its split decision to approve the pipeline that there is lingering doubt about…
Read MoreAppalachian Voices slams N.C. approval of Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Despite vigorous opposition from thousands of citizens across the state to the controversial, interstate fracked-gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Gov. Roy Cooper announced today that the state has approved a water quality permit for the roughly 160-mile section of the project that would cut through North Carolina. The massive pipeline would run through eight rural eastern…
Read MoreCoalition sues Va. water board over Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Richmond, VA –A coalition of community and conservation groups, including Appalachian Voices, late yesterday filed a legal challenge in federal court of the Virginia State Water Control Board’s approval in December of a water quality certification for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. While the board’s decision postponed the effectiveness of the certification pending completion of…
Read MoreDominion attempts another legislative end-run of regulatory process to lock in long-term profits
A proposal from Dominion Energy introduced today in the Virginia General Assembly would give the company — which profits from a state-sanctioned monopoly in its service territory — new latitude to further its interests at the public’s expense. Among other things, it continues a long-standing history of Dominion stripping authority from the State Corporation Commission…
Read MoreCitizens groups applaud legislation on natural gas pipelines introduced by Southwest Virginia lawmakers
Three legislators from Southwest Virginia have introduced several bills in the 2018 General Assembly aimed at protecting water quality and landowner rights from the construction of fracked-gas pipelines, such as the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines. The bills would require the Department of Environmental Quality to perform robust water permitting and impact review,…
Read MoreAppalachian Voices files suit to stop fracked-gas Mountain Valley Pipeline
WASHINGTON, DC — Late yesterday, a coalition of environmental groups took legal action in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to halt start of construction of the fracked-gas Mountain Valley Pipeline, challenging the “certificate of public convenience and necessity” issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Attorneys for Appalachian Mountain Advocates filed…
Read MoreDespite vigorous opposition, Virginia water board approves conditional permit for Atlantic Coast Pipeline
CONTACT: Cat McCue, Director of Communications, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Peter Anderson, Virginia Program Manager, 434-293-6373, peter@appvoices.org The Virginia State Water Control Board today approved a heavily amended certification for the proposed fracked-gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline that is conditional on getting outstanding information from state regulators about the project’s impacts to water quality. The board voted 4-3…
Read MoreGroups challenge Virginia’s unlawful approval of fracked-gas Mountain Valley Pipeline
Contact: Ben Luckett, 859.552.6979, bluckett@appalmad.org Derek Teaney, 304.793.9007, dteaney@appalmad.org Peter Anderson, 434-293-6373, peter@appvoices.org Doug Jackson, 202.495.3045 or doug.jackson@sierraclub.org Mike Tidwell, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org RICHMOND, VA — A coalition of environmental groups today filed a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to overturn Virginia’s unlawful approval yesterday of the…
Read MoreVirginia Water Control Board ignores citizen concerns, expert comments and approves controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline
CONTACT: Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, 434-953-8672, cat@appvoices.org Roberta Bondurant, Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights, 540-793-4769, bondurantlaw@aol.com Today, the State Water Control Board approved the permit for the proposed fracked-gas Mountain Valley Pipeline that would run 300 miles from West Virginia through six counties of Virginia. The 5-2 vote came after a full day of public…
Read MoreGoing solar in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia
CONTACT: Adam Wells, Appalachian Voices, New Economy Program Manager, 276-679-1691, adam@appvoices.org Matt Wasson, Appalachian Voices, Director of Programs, 828-262-1500, matt@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Director of Communications, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Wise County, Va. — A group of local leaders from far Southwest Virginia has crafted a nuts-and-bolts “how-to” plan for spurring growth of the solar industry in the…
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