Across Appalachia
A Local Fight for Water Rights | Fiscal Challenges for N.C. Clean Water Trust Fund
More than 40 municipalities around the state have passed resolutions against state government control of municipal water infrastructure. Now, the North Carolina legislature plans to seize control of Asheville’s water system. The issue goes back to when Asheville entered into a regional water authority with Henderson and Buncombe counties. As time passed, the partnership dissolved…
Read MoreDuking It Out: CEO Retires, Rates Increase and other shorts
By Matt Grimley Under a proposed settlement with the N.C. Utilities Commission and the N.C. Public Staff, Duke Energy President and CEO Jim Rogers will retire from his positions at the end of 2013. The agreement, announced late November, would resolve all issues involved in the commission’s investigation of Duke’s $32 billion merger with Progress…
Read MoreJanuary Is Radon Awareness Month
By Matt Grimley 2013 is beginning with an invisible, odorless bang. January is National Radon Awareness Month, designed to draw attention to radon as a serious public health issue and, more importantly, to motivate Americans to take action and protect themselves from radon’s harmful health effects. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to…
Read MoreShowing Off Your Mussels: Powell River Restocks Declining Populations and other shorts
This fall, more than 7,000 juvenile mussels were released into the Powell River, the largest number of endangered mussels planted in the history of the river’s restoration project. The release was coordinated through a partnership between Virginia Tech, Lincoln Memorial University, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 6,086 oyster…
Read MoreReady, Aim, Click: Photo Competition Accepting Entries
Now is your chance to showcase your interpretation of the unique character, people, places and pursuits that distinguish the Appalachian region. The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is accepting submissions from amateur and professional photographers for their 10th annual juried exhibition. The show is sponsored by the Outdoor Programs department at Appalachian State University, the Blue…
Read MoreWildlife Center Sues for Survival, Bad Fracking Rules for Tenn., Other Shorts
Wildlife Center Sues for Survival A non-profit wildlife center known for rehabilitating thousands of animals including red-winged hawks, great horned owls and bobcats has filed a lawsuit against the resort town of Beech Mountain, N.C., for what it says is unjust and illegal treatment. According to Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary, a new ordinance was passed by…
Read MoreFederal Grants for Troubled Appalachian Species | W.Va. Superfund Cleanup
Federal Grants To Assist Troubled Appalachian Species A round of special funding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded $33 million toward helping threatened and endangered species in 21 states, including several projects in the Central and Southern Appalachian region. In Cumberland County, Tenn., more than $700,000 will protect aquatic resources and improve habitat…
Read MoreNorth Carolina Lawmakers Fumble Over Fracking Vote
By Brian Sewell After Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed a controversial bill to legalize hydraulic fracturing in North Carolina, both the state Senate and House allowed little time for debate before voting to override the block. In the Republican-led House of Representatives, the veto override created controversy when it succeeded by one mistaken vote. Rep. Becky…
Read MoreRecognizing Renewable Opportunities
Kentucky could realize 34 percent of its energy demand from renewable sources by 2025, a new study shows. Authored by West Virginia-based Downstream Strategies and Kentucky-based Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, the report found that solar photovoltaic and combined heat and power, the simultaneous generation of mechanical power and thermal energy used for heating…
Read MorePartnerships Protect Western North Carolina’s Rare Aquatic Ecosystems
By Brian Sewell Public and private groups working together to protect land in Western North Carolina are making sure that the region’s aquatic ecosystems and the rare plants and animals found in them are also preserved. The Box Creek Wilderness, a newly designated state Significant Natural Heritage Area, encompasses 3,300 acres along the McDowell-Rutherford county…
Read More