The Front Porch Blog, with Updates from AppalachiaThe Front Porch Blog, with Updates from Appalachia

Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition report shows how mine cleanup can boost local economies

Friday, May 26th, 2023 | Posted by Rance Garrison | No Comments

The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition recently released its 2023 report, “National to Neighborhoods: Catalyzing Opportunities for Coal-Impacted Communities.” The report highlights the coalition’s current work and projects across the Appalachian coalfields of Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. [ Read More ]


What is the debt ceiling, and how could it be used to try to ram through MVP?

Friday, May 19th, 2023 | Posted by Dan Radmacher | 1 Comment

What is the debt ceiling, and why can it be used to gain leverage to pass unpopular legislation that otherwise wouldn’t have the necessary votes? [ Read More ]


Building future resilience to extreme cold in the wake of North Carolina’s rolling blackouts

Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 | Posted by Maddy Koch | No Comments

PSE Healthy Energy’s report shows that it’s not necessary for Duke Energy to wait for another emergency situation or just build more electricity generation because “targeted investments in weatherization, energy efficient appliances and demand response programs can keep demand lower and more stable in cold temperatures, and prevent another blackout.” [ Read More ]


Hydrogen gas — what’s all the hype about?

Friday, May 5th, 2023 | Posted by Emily Piontek | 1 Comment

Hydrogen gas as an energy source in Central Appalachia is a real possibility, so we’re unpacking this technology and exploring its potential impact on the health of communities and ecosystems in our region. [ Read More ]


Not On This Land: Documentary celebrates the community-led fight against the Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 | Posted by Jessica Sims | No Comments

The two screenings brought together people to celebrate the fight that brought down the behemoth ACP. “Not On This Land: The Fight Against the Atlantic Coast Pipeline,” directed by Christopher Landry, profiles some of the West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina communities who helped defeat the fracked-gas pipeline. [ Read More ]


Governor Youngkin, have you heard? Virginians love RGGI!

Friday, April 28th, 2023 | Posted by Emily Piontek | 13 Comments

Virginians speak up about Gov. Glenn Youngkin's proposal to exit the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. RGG limits carbon pollution from power plants at the lowest possible cost while funneling millions of dollars into at-risk communities. [ Read More ]


Mining agency encourages more, better stakeholder engagement for coal-impacted communities

Thursday, March 23rd, 2023 | Posted by Chelsea Barnes | No Comments

For years, the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program has been one of the only federal grant programs targeted at revitalizing coal mining communities. It's now being funded at its highest level to date and is getting a spruce-up from the federal agency that administers it. [ Read More ]


Remembering Harvard Ayers, founder of Appalachian Voices

Friday, March 10th, 2023 | Posted by Matt Wasson | 4 Comments

Harvard Ayers, founder of Appalachian Voices, passed away on March 9, 2023. Ayers was a true visionary and leaves behind a powerful legacy for the people and environment of Appalachia. [ Read More ]


Mountain Valley Pipeline: Risky, ruinous and roadblocked

Friday, March 10th, 2023 | Posted by Jessica Sims | 7 Comments

Nine years after the Mountain Valley Pipeline project was announced, it remains unnecessary and dangerous to the communities, water resources, lands and habitats through which it is routed. [ Read More ]


Wins and losses in the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session

Friday, March 3rd, 2023 | Posted by Dan Radmacher | 2 Comments

Even with the short session, Appalachian Voices’ capitol team had a lot to keep track of, with a number of bills we were hoping to convince legislators to support — and quite a few we were hoping to convince them to vote down. [ Read More ]


Guest post: New SkyTruth research reveals legacy of mountaintop mining — and the policy implications

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023 | Posted by Guest Contributor | No Comments

Explosives and heavy equipment: the perfect combination for mine owners to extract coal from a pristine Appalachian landscape. Too bad this process, known as mountaintop removal mining, is terrible if you live near the mined mountain, or in a watershed downstream, or on a planet faced with the imminent threat of ever-increasing temperatures brought about by greenhouse-gas emissions. [ Read More ]


Bad actor coal company seeks to expand surface mine in endangered candy darter habitat

Tuesday, February 21st, 2023 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments

Surface mining of this scale is bad news for the environment even if it is conducted within the confines of the law, but South Fork Coal Company’s history of regulatory infractions is almost as egregious as Greenbrier County is beautiful. [ Read More ]



 

 


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