RockingChair

Front Porch Blog

Updates from Appalachia

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Virginia utilities expand their menus with new energy-saving offerings

EENPODAdvocates for energy efficiency often call it “the first fuel,” and Virginia is now creeping ahead toward gains in this lowest-cost power source. The state’s largest utilities are promoting new programs to help their customers invest in energy-saving home improvements, which can help Virginians save money while reducing energy consumption and pollution.

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Why do you care?

WSJ_KaraWhether you’re two days or 20 years deep in environmental or social justice organizing, we all ask ourselves the same question day in and day out: why do I care? Rhiannon Fionn, creator of Coal Ash Chronicles, brings the “Why I Care” video series to the social media scene in the spirit of story-sharing, collaboration, power building and advocacy. Watch a few videos and share your own story.

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From Southwest Virginia, a path for less pollution

kathyKathy Selvage comes from a long line of coal miners in southwest Virginia. She’s proud of her heritage, yet is a passionate advocate for moving Appalachia away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy.

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We won’t stop until we’ve won in Virginia

Virginia Sierra ClubDespite last week’s legislative hearing on the Clean Power Plan in Richmond being stacked with pro-industry speakers, the legislators could not fail to notice just how many Virginians took the time to be there to watch and listen, and how passionately they care about shifting to clean energy.

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Environmental agency asleep at the switch?

Discharge site
In what seems to be the biggest incident of violating the Clean Water Act in history, Appalachian Voices has uncovered almost 28,000 violations at coal operations owned by Frasure Creek Mining in Kentucky. While shocking, the discovery is not surprising given the industry’s decades-long, callous disregard for health, safety, and environmental laws in Appalachia.

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