Front Porch Blog
Updates from Appalachia
The reclamation myth, it’s still happening too
Companies are still using mountaintop removal, blowing up mountains in Appalachia to mine coal. But despite what some say, they are not putting them back together again. Until the Obama administration and Congress take serious action, no amount of reclamation is going to fix the problems the mining is leaving behind.
Employees of DEP-certified lab conspired to violate Clean Water Act
An employee of a state-certified company pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the federal Clean Water Act after he faked compliant water quality samples for coal companies between 2008 and 2013. While we’re appalled by this discovery, it is hard to be surprised.
Introducing the High Country Home Makeover Contest
Appalachian Voices’ Energy Savings for Appalachia program is offering NC High Country homeowners a chance to make their homes more energy efficient and save money on their monthly electricity bills for years to come, through the High Country Home Energy Makeover Contest.
A huge win: Gainesville enacts policy to stop using mountaintop removal coal
Because of the heroic efforts of a group of citizens, Gainesville, Fla., became the first city in America to enact a policy to reduce its reliance on mountaintop removal coal. This victory was the culmination of three and a half years of work that included five hearings by the city commission, hundreds of hours of volunteer work and dozens of meetings with city commissioners.
