Front Porch Blog
Updates from Appalachia
EPA finalizes long-awaited coal ash regulations
The day we’ve been waiting for has finally come. No, not Friday — the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to release its long-awaited coal ash rule. But, as expected, the EPA’s new rule does not go far enough to truly fix the major pollution problems associated with coal ash including contamination of waterways and drinking water supplies.
Hey North Carolina, New York just banned fracking
New York’s debate over whether or not to allow fracking came to a close today when Gov. Andrew Cuomo sided with the state’s top public health and environmental officials in calling for a ban on the practice. The announcement was exceptional for the much-needed truth it inserts into the fracking fight that could, just maybe, help other states come to their senses.
Community solar projects expand access to clean energy in the Tennessee Valley and beyond
Guest Contributor Taylor Allred: Solar fever is sweeping the nation, but not everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of the clean energy opportunity at hand. One promising solution to the obstacles limiting access to solar are community solar projects, which allow individuals to purchase a portion of a larger-scale solar installation that is typically managed by their utility.
A schizoid rate case and a climate directive in Virginia
A recent order from the Virginia State Corporation Commission could spell trouble for residential and small-scale solar in the state. But there is also reason to have hope as regulators rejected a proposal by Appalachian Power Company to nearly double the fixed fees that show up on its customers’ monthly bills. Here’s a look at a schizoid rate case and what it could mean for Virginia’s energy future.
HBO’s “Saving My Tomorrow” to feature footage from Appalachian Voices
This coming Monday, HBO will premiere an entirely new documentary series that celebrates the children who will inherit the planet and their appreciation of the wonders of the natural world. A lyrical mix of science, animation, and music, “Saving My Tomorrow” is a call from kids to kids to help take care of the planet.
