Front Porch Blog
Updates from Appalachia
Open for business — APCo’s energy efficiency program
For folks living and working in western Virginia, Appalachian Power Co. is now offering its first-ever energy efficiency audit program for homeowners. There’s quite a lot more APCo could be doing, but this is a good start and we applaud the company.
Federal agency considers restricting surface mining in Tennessee
Ridgeline corridors across a 67,000-acre area of Tennessee could be protected from surface mining. The U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is considering granting the state’s request for a ban. Submit your comment in support of the Cumberland Mountains before Jan. 25!
A winning approach for the Clean Power Plan in Virginia
A new study shows that, in complying with the federal Clean Power Plan, Virginia should prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency and allow for participation in carbon trading with other states in order to boost economic activity, cut electricity costs, and safeguard healthy air. Such an approach could yield more than $25 million a year for economic development efforts in Southwest Virginia.
North Carolina’s reckless approach to the Clean Power Plan: Part 3
By 2020, and without making any changes, North Carolina will likely be 80 percent of the way toward meeting the federal goal for cutting carbon pollution. But it would miss out on a momentous opportunity to leverage the Clean Power Plan for job growth and helping lower-income families. Rather than resist the EPA, our state leaders should step up and position the Tar Heel state as a clean energy leader.
North Carolina’s reckless approach to the Clean Power Plan: Part 2
The deadline for comment on North Carolina’s Clean Power Plan is just two days away and you may be wondering — why is providing input so important? It’s simple, because the Plan will will chart our state’s role in becoming a clean power state and will either lift citizens away from the contamination and impacts of fossil fuel use, or will commit us to more of the same destructive power sources.
