Three Eastern Kentucky sites were added to the National Register of Historic Places in August.
Blog Archives
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Harnessing Solar in Appalachia
The United States is in the midst of a solar boom. The Solar Energy Industries Association reported a 97 percent increase in solar installations in 2016 compared to 2015. But as other states take advantage of solar, much of Appalachia…
Regional Coal Ash News: Toxic Cleanup, Legal Woes and EPA Changes
Over two dozen workers who helped clean up the December 2008 TVA coal ash disaster have died, and surviving workers and family members are suing. Duke Energy faces legal trouble for withholding dam safety information. The EPA is being challenged for retracting a 30-day public comment extension on coal ash guidelines.
Court Prevents County From Banning Fracking Wastewater
A federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s decision to block Fayette County, W.Va., from banning the disposal of fracking waste in the county on the grounds that fracking waste disposal is governed by the state.
White House Halts Review of Mountaintop Removal Health Impacts
In August, the U.S. Dept. of the Interior ordered the National Academy of Sciences to halt a two-year review of the human health impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining. The review’s budget was less than 1 percent of the department’s current grant spending.
Member Spotlight: Diana Withen
Diana Withen is a teacher, leader and environmental advocate in Southwest Virginia, where she is also regularly distributes The Appalachian Voice.
Bringing Rural Areas Up to (Internet) Speed
A Tennessee electric cooperative and a Kentucky municipal utility are working to replace the outdated internet infrastructure in rural communities.
Unique Solar Applications
By Otto Solberg Although solar fields generate large amounts of renewable energy, the ground underneath is commonly planted with turf grasses that do not effectively drain rainwater and require carbon-wasting maintenance. These innovative applications of solar energy are minimizing those…
Duke Energy Seeks Another Rate Hike for North Carolina Customers
Duke Energy subsidiary Duke Energy Carolinas requested to raise the rates of its residential customers by 16.7 percent. The request would shift onto customers the cost of cleaning up millions of tons of toxic coal ash.
Chimney Tops 2 Fire Review Discussed
The U.S. National Park Service released a report detailing causes and contributing factors to last fall’s deadly fire in the Great Smoky Mountains.
