The Appalachian Voice
Faced with Threats to Nolichucky River, Residents Unite
Concerned citizens have joined together to monitor the Nolichucky River in East Tennessee for pollution that could result from a new industrial pipeline. Though the water is still at risk, opposition to the pipeline has spurred community engagement.
Read MoreLegal Action Sought Against Chemical Company
An environmental group, Tennessee Riverkeeper, is seeking legal action against the chemical manufacturing company 3M for improper disposal of toxic chemicals in and around Decatur, Ala.
Read MoreOrganizing Around the Clean Power Plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the first limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants earlier this year. Known as the Clean Power Plan, the rules give states a wide degree of flexibility to determine how to reduce their carbon emissions. Our teams are hard at work in the Appalachian states to ensure that…
Read MoreA Fondest Farewell
It is with much fondness and appreciation that we bid farewell to one of the longest-running staff members at Appalachian Voices. Susan Congelosi (nickname: The Uzi) joined the organization in 2000, becoming only the second staff member in the fledgling nonprofit’s history. Over the past 15 years, as our Controller Susan was responsible for overseeing…
Read MoreCommunity Networking for Coal Ash Cleanup in N.C.
Our North Carolina team continues to work directly with those most impacted by coal ash. In November, we helped organize the second statewide gathering of ACT (Alliance of Carolinians Together) Against Coal Ash, a powerful grassroots group of residents living near current or proposed coal ash dumps. In Stokes Co., outside of Duke’s Belews Creek…
Read MoreCoal Ash Management Continues to Challenge Region
Legal challenges continue in North Carolina, as new contamination from coal ash is identified in Tennessee.
Read MoreWelcome to New Staff
Leigh Kirchner, Development Coordinator Join us in welcoming two new members to the Appalachian Voices team! Leigh grew up in beautiful Rockbridge County in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where her roots go back many generations to a Monacan Indian on one side and German settlers on the other. A first-generation college student, she…
Read MoreCompetition in Solar Power Challenges Utilities
Utility companies in North Carolina and Virginia attempt to block third-party solar power from gaining a foothold in their coverage areas.
Read MoreRallying Against Climate Change
In October, we worked with our community partners to organize a rally in downtown Charlottesville, Va. This demonstration was part of the National Day of Action in advance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference schedule to take place in Paris in December. More than 150 residents gathered to ask their representatives to stop the…
Read MoreSouthwest Virginia’s New Economy Forums
In October, Appalachian Voices partnered with Virginia Organizing to host eight community forums in the coalfield counties of southwest Virginia. More than 130 residents participated in the forums, sharing their ideas about how to move the economy of their communities forward. We are excited to continue this conversation. In the coming months, we will publish…
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