Press Releases
Dominion 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…
Read MoreHundreds to gather at Va. Capitol in unity for clean water, against fracked-gas pipelines
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: December 2, 2017, 1:00 pm CONTACT: Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, cat@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373 Event will feature concert at National Theater and historic human circle around Capitol Grounds Richmond, Va. — On Saturday, December 2, hundreds of Virginians from all walks of life and from all across the state will gather in Richmond in…
Read MoreVirginia approves draft rule to cut carbon pollution from power plants
Contact: Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Kelley Galownia, Virginia Conservation Network, 571-403-4625, Kelley@vcnva.org RICHMOND – The State Air Pollution Control Board today unanimously approved the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s proposed draft regulations under Executive Directive 11 to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants. These draft regulations serve as a critical first…
Read MoreFeds must re-do environmental studies for fracked-gas pipelines
Contact: Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Doug Jackson, Sierra Club, 202-495-3045, doug.jackson@sierraclub.org Ben Luckett, Appalachian Mountain Advocates, 304-645-0125, bluckett@appalmad.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Appalachian Voices and partner organizations have filed a request for a rehearing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines, a necessary step before filing…
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