Press Releases
Groups blast FERC findings on Mountain Valley Pipeline for fracked gas
Contact information for those quoted provided below. A coalition of landowners and advocacy organizations today condemned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for disregarding the profound and long-lasting human and environmental trauma the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) would cause. In its final environmental review, released Friday morning, FERC ignores the most harmful impacts this…
Read MoreGroups challenge W.Va. certification for proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline
Contact: Gabby Brown, Sierra Club, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org Peter Anderson, Appalachian Voices, peter@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373 Richmond, VA — Environmental groups filed suit today challenging West Virginia’s certification for the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline, which would transport fracked gas across West Virginia and Virginia. The proposed 300-mile, 42-inch pipeline would cross primarily undeveloped, rural agricultural and forested lands. The…
Read MoreGot 90 seconds? New video explains electric utility financing for residential energy efficiency
Contact: Rory McIlmoil, Appalachian Voices, Energy Savings Program Manager, 828-262-1500, rory@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, Director of Communications, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org A video short released today aims to broadly publicize a rarely used model of financing for utilities to pay the upfront costs of residential energy efficiency improvements so customers can immediately benefit from healthier, more…
Read MoreReport finds thousands in western N.C. and eastern Tenn. need energy efficiency financing
CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, Appalachian Voices Energy Savings Program Manager, rory@appvoices.org, (828) 262-1500 Boone, N.C. — A program that pays for the upfront cost of home energy improvements could lower monthly bills for thousands of families in western North Carolina while creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and protecting natural resources and public health, according to Appalachian…
Read MoreCongress includes $10 million for Southwest Virginia coal communities in spending plan
Contact: Adam Wells, New Economy Program Manager, 276-679-1691, adam@appvoices.org Thom Kay, Senior Legislative Representative, 864-580-1843, thom.kay@appvoices.org Gerald Collins Coal Mining Engineering Services LLC, 276-220-0150, gerald1951@comcast.net Norton, Va. — A proposed federal spending bill that took shape in Congress over the weekend includes $10 million in funding for economic development projects to help communities in Southwest…
Read MoreFederal review of Atlantic Coast Pipeline fails people and the environment
Contacts: Lewis Freeman, Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance, 703-298-8107, lewfreeman@gmail.com Greg Buppert, Southern Environmental Law Center, 434-977-4090, gbuppert@selcva.org Ben Luckett, Appalachian Mountain Advocates, 404-645-0125, bluckett@appalmad.org Peter Anderson, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, peter@appvoices.org An analysis of environmental impacts for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline is completely inadequate and falls far short of legal requirements. This is the overwhelming consensus…
Read MoreSouthwest Virginia hosts “Solar Fair”
Contact: Lydia Graves, Appalachian Voices, lydia@appvoices.org, (276) 679-1691 The Southwest Virginia Solar Workgroup is hosting a Solar Fair on May 9 at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. This event is free and open to the public. All are encouraged to come enjoy free solar powered fun and food. Attendees will have the opportunity…
Read MoreTrump repeals protection for Appalachian streams, communities
Contact: Erin Savage, Central Appalachian Program Manager, 206-769-8286, erin [at] appvoices.org Thom Kay, Senior Legislative Representative, 864-580-1843, thom [at] appvoices.org President Trump is scheduled to sign a resolution today repealing the Stream Protection Rule. The loss of the rule has far-reaching consequences, especially for Central Appalachian streams and communities. A main goal of the rule…
Read MoreAppalachian Voices joins coalition to legally defend stream protections, community health
Contact: Thom Kay, Senior Legislative Representative, 864-580-1843, thom.kay [at] appvoices.org Cat McCue, Communications Director, 434-293-6373, cat [at] appvoices.org Washington DC – A coalition of local and national community and conservation groups, including Appalachian Voices, yesterday filed a motion to participate in two lawsuits that seek to undermine the Stream Protection Rule. The rule, an update…
Read MoreGroups blast FERC findings on fracked-gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline
To all media: America’s next big pipeline fight is emerging in the mountain towns and farming communities of West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina. With federal regulators poised to rubber-stamp the proposed fracked-gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline, landowners, community leaders and their allies are taking inspiration from the water protectors at Standing Rock and vowing to…
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