Press Releases
Federal report on MVP-Southgate pipeline snubs human, environmental impacts
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate extension pipeline. Although considerations were incorporated from public comments, the overall conclusion of the FEIS remains the same from its draft stage. A conditional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity is expected to follow which,…
Read MoreVirginia coalfield localities call for renewed federal funding for mine cleanup
CONTACT: Thom Kay, Senior Legislative Representative, thom.kay@appvoices.org, 864-580-1843 Cat McCue, Senior Communications Strategist, cat@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373 Norton, Va. — Seven local governments in Southwest Virginia have passed resolutions calling on the state’s congressional delegation to support federal legislation that would reauthorize funding program to reclaim abandoned coal mines. The town of Pound, in Wise County, passed…
Read MoreNorth Carolina, Duke Energy reach historic settlement on coal ash cleanup
Today, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Read MoreSen. Manchin takes new view of mountaintop removal coal mining
CONTACTS: Thom Kay, Senior Legislative Representative, thom.kay@appvoices.org, 828-262-1500 At a confirmation hearing today for the nominee to head the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement, Sen. Joe Manchin asked nominee Lanny Erdos to commit to revive a National Academies of Sciences study on mountaintop removal coal mining and its impacts on human health. The…
Read MoreEconomic coalition identifies 19 old coal sites for cleanup and redevelopment in Central Appalachia
CONTACTS: Adam Wells, Appalachian Voices, adam@appvoices.org, 276-679-1691 Joey James, Downstream Strategies, jjames@downstreamstrategies.com, 304-322-4590 Rebecca Shelton, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, rshelton@aclc.org , 865-202-8688 Jacob Hannah, Coalfield Development, jhannah@coalfield-development.org, 304-614-8035 Marissa R. Lautzenheiser, Rural Action, marissa@ruralaction.org, 330-859-1050 New website launched as resource for communities, policy makers, funders and the media Norton, VA — A coalition of groups…
Read MorePublic opposition in N.C. wins on rate-hike bill despite Duke Energy’s money influence
CONTACTS: Rory McIlmoil, 828-278-4558, rory@appvoices.org Bobby Jones, 919-394-0727, bibija@aol.com Today, the North Carolina Senate voted 48-0 to pass a revised version of Senate Bill 559 that the House of Representatives had passed yesterday 112-0. Public opposition to previous versions of Duke Energy’s controversial ratemaking bill had been strong and steady for the past several months,…
Read MoreAppalachian Voices files legal challenge of Duke Energy’s rate hike in N.C.
CONTACTS: Greer Ryan, Center for Biological Diversity, 812-345-8571, gryan@biologicaldiversity.org Rory McIlmoil, Appalachian Voices, 828-262-1500, rory@appvoices.org Raleigh, N.C. — The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices filed a petition today to intervene in Duke Energy Carolinas’ application to substantially increase electricity rates in North Carolina without also promoting renewable energy. The groups argued that simply…
Read MoreFERC 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…
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