The Appalachian Voice
Alpha Agrees to Water Pollution Settlement
Alpha Natural Resources agreed to a settlement in a 2012 lawsuit, brought by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, regarding high levels of conductivity found in streams at two of its mountaintop removal mining complexes in West Virginia.
Read MoreWest Virginia Legislative Maneuvers Disregard Water Quality
The West Virginia legislature has introduced two new bills that would loosen coal mining rules and impact state water quality.
Read MoreClean Line Wind Project Clears Hurdle
Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners LLC received initial approval from Tennessee regulators to construct a 700-mile transmission line that would deliver wind power to customers in the Tennessee Valley.
Read MoreWest Virginia Repeals “Alternative” Energy Law
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed a bill to repeal the state’s Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, a law ostensibly aimed at promoting adoption of renewable sources.
Read MoreInterior Dept. Opens Atlantic Coast to Drilling
The Obama administration announced plans on Jan. 26 to open up waters in the Atlantic to oil and gas exploration and drilling.
Read MoreLawsuit Challenges State Fracking Panel
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit challenging the North Carolina legislature’s role in appointing the majority of members of the body responsible for developing rules to regulate fracking in the state.
Read MoreEnergy and Environment Star in First Act of New Congress
The 114th Congress had barely opened its doors when the subject of climate change rolled up to Capitol Hill, unpacked its suitcase, and settled in for what appears to be a long stay in federal politics this year.
Read MoreAppalachia’s Environmental Votetracker: Feb-March 2015 Issue
See how Appalachian congressional representatives voted on several environmental issues during the first month of the new Congress.
Read MorePresident’s Budget Proposal Includes Boons for Appalachia
Central Appalachian communities weathering coal’s long decline would see a boost in funding under the White House budget released in February.
Read MoreAn interview with Christopher Scotton, author of “Secret Wisdom of the Earth”
From The Appalachian Voice Online: “Secret Wisdom of the Earth,” the debut novel by Christopher Scotton released this week, is a coming-of-age story that takes familiar themes — tragedy and the quest to find healing — and explores them with the backdrop of a Central Appalachian community beset by mountaintop removal coal mining.