Front Porch Blog
Updates from Appalachia
Victory for public health in Duke Energy settlement
After 15 years of legal wrangling with Duke Energy, federal lawyers have finally reached a settlement over charges the utility has been illegally emitting air pollution at several of its North Carolina power plants. Duke will have to close 13 of its coal-fired units by 2024. While that’s good news for its neighbors, there’s still the problem of polluted water from Duke’s coal ash ponds.
Welcome to new staff and 2015-16 AmeriCorps members
We would like to welcome three new faces to Appalachian Voices, our new Central Appalachian Campaign Coordinator Willie Dodson, and two new AmeriCorps Project Conserve members for the 2015-16 service term, Ridge Graham and Lee Payne.
NCDENR needs to step up
Since the Dan River coal ash catastrophe of February 2014, there’s been more foot-dragging than problem-solving by Duke Energy and DENR to solve the state’s coal ash crisis. But citizens like Amy Brown are keeping the pressure on, and Appalachian Voices is right there with them.
A Tennessee homecoming for energy savings
Amy Kelly is returning to her roots in the Volunteer State as Tennessee Energy Savings Outreach Coordinator for Appalachian Voices. She’ll be tapping into the natural ingenuity of local residents to help strengthen communities by increasing energy efficiency programs in the region.
It ain’t easy living on bottled water
Amy Brown lives in Belmont, North Carolina, with her two children. Since spring, she’s been living on bottled water. Her tap water, she’s been told, is contaminated by Duke Energy’s nearby coal ash pits. This is her story.
