Front Porch Blog
Updates from Appalachia
Reflections from the second SOAR Summit
Last week’s SOAR Summit provided a positive forum for people working to strengthen local economies in Appalachia. But, even with so many who care deeply about the region gathering in one place, there was disappointingly little time or space created for discussion amongst the people who are doing the lion’s share of the groundwork in Appalachian communities.
A “crass abuse of power” in the N.C. Senate
The disgust with North Carolina Sen. Bob Rucho today is broad and bipartisan. Yesterday in the Senate finance committee, which he chairs, Rucho not only limited debate on provisions of HB332, which would freeze the state’s highly successful Renewable Portfolio Standard, he refused to allow an individual tally of votes and declared a failed bill passed.
Duke Energy to close aging Asheville coal plant
Duke Energy announced plans today to retire its polluting, uneconomical Asheville coal plant and build a natural gas-fired facility in its place. While the news should be celebrated as progress, it also represents another precarious step along a dangerous road that will prolong our region’s over-reliance on fossil fuels and saddle consumers with long-lived investments in natural gas.
Who’s casting shadows over N.C. solar?
When it comes to jobs, pollution, and sustainability, energy from the sun beats energy from fracked gas hands down. So why are N.C. legislators and Duke Energy casting shadows over the state’s potential to become #1 in solar?
Residents in Mountain Valley path pipe up at hearing
Turnout was tremendous at the first of two public hearings where Virginians had a chance to share their stories and environmental concerns about the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline with federal energy regulators.
