The Appalachian Voice
Who Represents us in the 113th Congress?
The 113th session of the U.S. Senate began on Jan. 3, with the Democratic party gaining two seats as a result of the November election — only slightly increasing its majority control to 53. We take a look at the 10 central and southern Appalachian senators: Who represents us? VIRGINIA Tim Kaine While serving as…
Read MoreA Return to the States
By Appalachian Voices staff State legislatures in Appalachia are using their authority on health care reform, taxes, education, and energy and environmental policy to accomplish their own agendas, and sometimes, to rebuke federal policies. Here is the latest from our region’s representation. Virginia As he prepares to leave office this fall, Gov. Bob McDonnell will…
Read MoreSequestration’s Side Effects
By Davis Wax As the indiscriminate budget cuts known as the sequester cause fissures throughout the federal government, programs that protect public health and the environment are feeling the crunch. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s budget is being cut from $8.4 billion to $7.7 billion with particularly harmful effects to its clean water program, which…
Read MoreThe Inside Scoop on Residential Efficiency Policies
By Matt Grimley Jim and Edrianna Stilwells’ home in Fairview, N.C., is immersed in nature. It sits at 3,500 feet and offers nearly 360 degrees of mountainous views. It was designed to be energy efficient, and with lessening their carbon footprint in mind, the Stilwells decided to add a solar thermal system to their home.…
Read MoreA Case for the Smart Grid
How adding intelligence to an aging system could put control in the consumers’ hands By Davis Wax While we can often take our 21st-century technology for granted, whether it is the next smartphone, laptop or means of digital storage, there is at least one area such innovation has failed to revolutionize: today’s electric grid system.…
Read MorePowering with Change
On-bill financing helps low-income co-op members retrofit their homes By Matt Grimley The Great Depression was a time of dust bowls and poverty, but at least cities had electricity. The rural areas had it rough. Citing high development costs and low profit possibilities, utilities often denied electric service to farms, hollers and other far-off places.…
Read MoreCentral Virginia LEAPS into Energy Savings
By Cat McCue For a nonprofit organization just barely three years old, the Local Energy Alliance Program has racked up some impressive numbers: 1,000 homeowners served, 7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity conserved and a total of $500,000 annually saved on the homeowners’ electric bills. LEAP started in 2009 with a seed grant from the federal…
Read MoreThe Means to More Efficient Ends
Energy Conservation Takes Businesses to New Heights By Brian Sewell If not in person, most Americans have seen the Empire State Building in pictures and postcards, along with the emerald light that often illuminates the upper reaches of the spire. The iconic building has held its share of marketable claims to fame over the years…
Read MoreThe Appalachian States of Energy Efficiency
By Matt Grimley Every year, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy releases rankings on individual state’s energy efficiency performance. And every year, Appalachia is middling at best in saving energy. The ACEEE’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard examines everything from building codes to utility programs and policies to determine who takes the top spot. 2012’s…
Read MorePower to the People
By Molly Moore It’s no coincidence that the words “electricity” and “power” can be used interchangeably. Our society owes a huge debt to electricity — it’s often easier to recount the aspects of our lives that are connected to an outlet than not. But instead of controlling our energy use, we’ve let our addiction to…
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