Blog Archives

Confronting Rising Black Lung

Amid an ongoing surge in severe black lung disease among coal miners, federal lawmakers have introduced a number of bills aimed at assisting affected miners and their families. The Inflation Reduction Act shored up funding for benefits, and advocates are pushing for additional measures.

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The Tennessee Valley Faces Crossroads Between Methane Gas or Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Under TVA's plan, smokestacks at the Cumberland Fossil Plant would continue to spew pollution into the air. Photo by Angie Mummaw

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to transition away from coal has generated significant push-back from environmental and community groups because of its reliance on methane gas instead of renewable energy.

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Seeking to Expand the Impact of Massive Federal Investment in Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines

Orange water in a shallow stream

Following the $11.3 billion investment in abandoned mine cleanup in the infrastructure law, the administration released spending recommendations and a related acid mine drainage cleanup bill passed the House.

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Virginia Governor Aims to Remove State from Greenhouse Gas Initiative

In 2021 Gov. Glenn Youngkin campaigned on a promise to get Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative — a cooperative effort among 12 states to cap and reduce carbon emissions while investing in clean energy, energy efficiency and

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Groups Unsatisfied with Duke Energy’s NC Carbon Plan

Many North Carolina residents, businesses and environmental groups are calling on the state utilities commission to push for more renewable power, energy efficiency and measures to address affordability in the state’s final carbon reduction plan.

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North Carolina Issues General Biogas Permit

On July 1, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality issued a general permit for biogas digesters that convert animal waste into methane for energy production, as required by the N.C. 2021 Farm Act.

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Biden Administration Proposes Restoration of Mercury Pollution Rules

smoke and steam rise from a power plant

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed reinstating a legal finding that supports restrictions on the amount of mercury that may be discharged by power plants.

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Align RNG Settlement Spotlights Biogas Plant Regulation

After the first settlement of its kind in North Carolina capping limits on emissions from a biogas plant in Sampson County, environmental advocates hope the agreement sets the stage for stricter statewide regulation of the processing of animal waste from concentrated feeding operations into fuel or biogas.

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Looming Uncertainty Over Future of Abandoned Mine Land Cleanup

rolling hills with winter trees

Congress has allowed the Abandoned Mine Lands program to expire, and advocates said nationwide on both state and tribal lands, residents face uncertainty over the future of environmental cleanup and economic recovery on lands once used to mine coal.

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NC Energy Bill Gets Criticism for Cost, Climate-Change Effectiveness

Industrial consumers, environmental advocates and residential ratepayers in North Carolina have voiced concerns over a new energy bill critics say was created with outsized input from Duke Energy.

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