Written by Kevin Ridder

AVMountainBorder-frontporch1

Kevin Ridder

Born in Arizona and raised in Tennessee, Kevin’s love of the mountains drove him to move even further east to Boone, N.C., where he serves as The Appalachian Voice's Associate Editor and a communications associate for the organization.

mountain valley pipeline

Mountain Valley Pipeline’s Latest Challenges: Water-crossing Permits and Compressor Station Hearing

The long-contested MVP faces new delays due to water-crossing permits. Bills that would give Virginia more authority to protect water quality from pipelines are advancing in the state legislature. As the commonwealth considers a compressor station for MVP Southgate, developers of the canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline begin the restoration process.

Read More

Building Community Internet in the Clearfork Valley

The Southern Connected Communities Project is working to bring high-speed internet to Clairfield, Tenn., and other underserved rural areas.

Read More
Warbler Ridge Preserve

New Preserve on Pine Mountain Connects Protected Areas

The Kentucky Natural Lands Trust established the Warbler Ridge Preserve in December, forming a nearly 2,500-acre protected area on Pine Mountain.

Read More
power lines

Cooperative Connectivity: Some Electric Co-ops Aim to Meet the Broadband Challenge

Nearly a quarter of rural Americans don’t have access to reliable high-speed internet. Powell Valley Electric Cooperative and others are working to change this.

Read More
coal truck

Virginia Resident Finally Finds Relief From Coal Truck Dust

After a resident unsuccessfully sought aid from Virginia officials for two years to address constant dust from passing coal trucks, one reporter’s questions motivated the company to take action.

Read More
Desiree Shelley

The Appalachian Pipeline Resistance Movement: “We’re Not Going Away”

Residents along the paths of the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines have made it clear that fracked-gas projects are not welcome.

Read More
mountain valley pipeline

Mountain Valley Pipeline Construction Partially Resumes

A federal court halted work at nearly 1,000 stream crossings in Virginia and West Virginia one week after federal regulators allowed construction to resume on most of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Read More
Duke Energy Center

Duke Energy Rate Hike Decision Expected in December

If approved, the rate increase could disproportionately impact low-income households in North Carolina.

Read More

Saving Appalachian Species

The Endangered Species Act plays a crucial role in protecting our region’s wealth of biodiversity — but this bedrock environmental law is under attack.

Read More
water faucet

More Than 1 Million North Carolinians Face Utility Shutoffs

The last of North Carolina’s moratoriums on utility shutoffs expired in August. While Gov. Roy Cooper allocated $175 million in rent and utility bill assistance, consumer advocates say that it won’t be nearly enough.

Read More