The Appalachian Voice
Snail Tales
Did you know Appalachia has the most snail species out of any region in North America? Discover the important role our slimy little friends play in the ecosystem in this issue’s Naturalist’s Notebook.
Read MoreThe Rules of the Solar Game
Nothing is more free than the sun and the wind, right? The answer is not as clear-cut as one might think, and is different from state to state and even within the same state, as utilities often set their own renewable energy policies. The cost of both residential and utility-scale solar has fallen greatly in…
Read MorePipelines Face Continued Challenges
Citizen and environmental groups continue to challenge the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Mountain Valley Pipeline as the companies behind the pipelines push for rushed decisions.
Read MoreHistoric Eastern Kentucky Sites Added to National Register
Three Eastern Kentucky sites were added to the National Register of Historic Places in August.
Read MoreHarnessing Solar in Appalachia
The United States is in the midst of a solar boom. The Solar Energy Industries Association reported a 97 percent increase in solar installations in 2016 compared to 2015. But as other states take advantage of solar, much of Appalachia is left in the dark with legislation that limits solar expansion. Even within Appalachian states,…
Read MoreRegional Coal Ash News: Toxic Cleanup, Legal Woes and EPA Changes
Over two dozen workers who helped clean up the December 2008 TVA coal ash disaster have died, and surviving workers and family members are suing. Duke Energy faces legal trouble for withholding dam safety information. The EPA is being challenged for retracting a 30-day public comment extension on coal ash guidelines.
Read MoreCourt Prevents County From Banning Fracking Wastewater
A federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s decision to block Fayette County, W.Va., from banning the disposal of fracking waste in the county on the grounds that fracking waste disposal is governed by the state.
Read MoreWhite House Halts Review of Mountaintop Removal Health Impacts
In August, the U.S. Dept. of the Interior ordered the National Academy of Sciences to halt a two-year review of the human health impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining. The review’s budget was less than 1 percent of the department’s current grant spending.
Read MoreMember Spotlight: Diana Withen
Diana Withen is a teacher, leader and environmental advocate in Southwest Virginia, where she is also regularly distributes The Appalachian Voice.
Read MoreBringing Rural Areas Up to (Internet) Speed
A Tennessee electric cooperative and a Kentucky municipal utility are working to replace the outdated internet infrastructure in rural communities.
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