The Appalachian Voice
Mountaintop Removal Reduces Nearby Songbird Populations
Forest-dependent songbird species appear in significantly smaller numbers in areas adjacent to reclaimed mountaintop removal mines, according to a study published this year in the journal Landscape Ecology. Evaluating bird populations in forested land next to reclaimed mine sites in Kentucky and West Virginia, researchers found declines in nearly two dozen types of songbirds, including…
Read MoreIncreasing Homeowner Access to Energy Savings
Financing programs are helping homeowners invest in upgrades that make residences more comfortable while lowering electric bills and reducing a home’s carbon footprint.
Read MoreDominion Eyes Alternate Route for Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Immense public opposition in Virginia led developers to propose alternate routes for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, avoiding the two counties where residents have been most unwavering. Dominion Transmission Inc., which plans to build the 550-mile natural gas pipeline through West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina to serve southeastern utilities, announced in May that it mapped…
Read MoreSchools Do the Math and Go Green
Regional schools are finding that solar power and energy efficiency can help reduce electric bills, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and provide a valuable learning opportunity.
Read MoreDuke to Close Asheville Coal Plant
Under pressure to address rampant coal ash pollution, Duke Energy announced it will close its aging coal plant located near Asheville, N.C., and replace it with a 650-megawatt natural gas-fired facility, nearly doubling the current plant’s electricity-generating capacity. Of the four facilities deemed “high priority” by North Carolina’s Coal Ash Management Act, the Asheville plant…
Read MoreStudents Use Sustainable Methods to Build New Homes, Teach Others
Virginia Tech students are helping high-schoolers learn about sustainable building materials, all while constructing a home for a family in need.
Read MoreCaught red-handed! Or more accurately, red-beaked
Wood thrushes — and their appetite for bright-red ginseng berries — are helping the plant spread its range further north.
Read MoreAn Appalachian Bookshelf
Featuring reviews of “Phenomenal” by Leigh Ann Henion, “Beautiful Land of the Sky” by Loren M. Wood, and “Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook” by John Schaeffer
Read MoreDesigning Endurance on the Appalachian Trail
Researchers are seeking to protect the Appalachian Trail from growing hiker use and increasingly erratic weather patterns.
Read MorePermit Renewal Raises Questions for Radford Arsenal
Air pollution concerns at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant spark a controversy in the New River Valley.
Read More