Press Releases
DEP report concludes KD 1 Surface Mine is cause of acid mine drainage near Marmet
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has concluded that a surface mine near Kanawha State Forest is polluting a tributary to Lens Creek outside of Marmet with acid mine drainage and high levels of manganese, aluminum, conductivity and sulfates.
Read MoreSolar Workgroup hosting community meeting in Gate City about solar on working farms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 8, 2025 CONTACTDan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org GATE CITY, Va. — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia is hosting a community meeting focused on the dual-use of land for solar energy and agriculture, known as agrivoltaics, on Thursday, Oct. 2, between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place…
Read MoreHouse subcommittee to vote on cuts to mine safety tonight
On Labor Day, a House Appropriations Subcommittee released its draft funding proposal, which would cut funding levels for key mine safety agencies.
Read MorePublic informational meeting on Sept. 16 to discuss proposed methane gas project in Davidson County
On Sept. 16, a public informational meeting will be held to discuss the Southeast Supply Enhancement project, which will include a 54-mile methane gas pipeline and increased capacity of compressor stations in Virginia and North Carolina.
Read MoreCommunity meeting called in Keokee, Va., to discuss creating resilience hub at old elementary school
On Sept. 23, Appalachian Voices is hosting a community meeting at the former Keokee Elementary School building to discuss the potential for transforming the school into a resilience hub.
Read MoreStatement on introduction of Pipeline Accountability Act
Late yesterday, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., introduced the Pipeline Accountability Act, a reintroduction of the formerly named Pipeline Accountability, Safety and Environmental Standards Act of 2025, which will make several improvements to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s authority and capacity to regulate fracked gas, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide pipelines and ensure public safety.
Read MoreLabor leaders, environmental groups oppose TVA privatization
Today, labor leaders from unions and labor groups, along with Appalachian Voices, Sierra Club, and other environmental organizations, voiced unified opposition to reported efforts to privatize the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Read MoreWest Virginia groups urge Gov. Morrisey, Attorney General McCuskey to defend WV’s Solar for All program award
Today, a dozen West Virginia companies and organizations sent a letter to the offices of Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Attorney General J.B. McCuskey to call on them to push back on the Trump administration’s cancellation of a vital energy affordability program.
Read MoreMore coal miner lives in jeopardy as silica safeguard delayed yet again
Measures that prevent deadly silica dust exposure among coal miners are indefinitely delayed, as coal industry lawyers and the Trump Administration’s Mine Safety and Health Administration reportedly continue to negotiate a settlement to the industry’s case to block safeguards that were initially scheduled to come into effect on April 14.
Read MoreSouth Fork Coal says it will liquidate rather than restructure in bankruptcy filing
White Forest Resources, the parent company of South Fork Coal Company, announced that its bankruptcy would end in liquidation rather than restructuring. South Fork Coal has a history of more than 140 environmental violations at its mining complex near Richwood, West Virginia.
Read More