Geysers, dry wells, damage to buildings and strange slime in creeks have residents near Wolf Pen, West Virginia, looking for answers. Meanwhile, coal companies dodge accountability by blaming each other.
Dan Radmacher
Dan is Appalachian Voice's Media Specialist. Previously, he worked as an opinion journalist for newspapers in Illinois, West Virginia, Florida and Virginia, and then as a communications consultant for a number of environmental nonprofit organizations.
Blog Archives
The Appalachian Voice
Coal Companies Point Fingers as Local Residents Contend With Flood and Home Damage
TAGS: Alpha Natural Resources Bluestone Resources Coal Contura mine reclamation Pinn MC Wind Down Co. Pinnacle Mine Complex West Virginia Geysers Wolf Pen
‘Invaded, Disregarded and Dismissed’
Bent Mountain neighbors monitor Mountain Valley Pipeline construction amid rising concerns over degraded pipes and a rushed completion deadline.
TAGS: Bent Mountain Preserve construction monitoring mountain valley pipeline Mountain Valley Watch POWHR West Virginia Rivers Coalition
Castle in the Sun
“Kids look at it, and they see a castle,” says Scott Miller, executive director of Just For Kids Advocacy Center, of the nonprofit organization’s new Beckley, West Virginia, headquarters. That castle is now solar-powered by a 14-panel ground array, which was unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 25.
TAGS: Appalachian Regional Commission Appalachian Solar Finance Fund Inflation Reduction Act Just For Kids Advocacy Center Solar
Greenbrier River Watchdogs Alarmed as Mountain Valley Pipeline Drills
Local residents and water protectors are concerned about pollution and safety risks as boring for the Mountain Valley Pipeline begins beneath West Virginia’s Greenbrier River.
TAGS: Greenbrier River Greenbrier River Watershed Association mountain valley pipeline mvp West Virginia Rivers Coalition
Challenges Remain For Mountain Valley Pipeline
In 2022 and 2023, opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline have witnessed a number of victories and setbacks.
Woman Says Pipeline ‘Wrecked’ Farm
Construction for the Mountain Valley Pipeline damaged Karolyn Givens’ farm, and she says neither the state of Virginia nor the company have been able to repair the land and water.
Mine Cleanup Concerns Grow As Industry Declines
The decline of the coal industry is exacerbating failures of the current federal system to ensure that mines are cleaned up.
TAGS: coal bankruptcy coal decline coal slurry impoundment mine cleanup mine reclamation Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
How the Coal Mine Cleanup System is Failing
The bankruptcy of coal company Blackjewel has exposed many flaws in the current mine cleanup system.
TAGS: Aily Branch Mine blackjewel coal bankruptcy mine cleanup mine reclamation mine runoff Virginia
The Tennessee Valley Faces Crossroads Between Methane Gas or Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to transition away from coal has generated significant push-back from environmental and community groups because of its reliance on methane gas instead of renewable energy.
TAGS: Coal Energy Efficiency just transition pipelines Renewable Energy Tennessee Valley Authority TVA
Seeking to Expand the Impact of Massive Federal Investment in Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines
Following the $11.3 billion investment in abandoned mine cleanup in the infrastructure law, the administration released spending recommendations and a related acid mine drainage cleanup bill passed the House.
