Front Porch Blog
Updates from Appalachia
U.S. Supreme Court Rules on the “Sequel to Citizens United”
If you weren’t recently rescued from a deserted island, you’re probably aware that money in politics holds sway over every issue imaginable. So anyone passionate about, well, anything really, should take note of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling today on McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, a case that’s being called “the sequel to Citizens United.”
Heroes and Hyperbole: U.S. House Passes Pro-Mountaintop Removal Bill
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to roll back stream protections in an effort to make it easier to dump waste from mountaintop removal mines into Appalachian streams. Given the makeup of the House right now, this comes as no surprise. But there is a silver lining.
Another Week of Coal Ash Coverage in North Carolina
Since the Dan River coal ash spill drew national attention to the threats coal ash poses to waterways, North Carolinians have come together to tell state regulators and elected officials that the risks associated with Duke Energy’s mismanaged and outdated coal ash ponds are unacceptable. Here is a round up of the ongoing news coverage of North Carolina’s coal ash problem in the wake of the spill.
Clean energy works, I heard it on the radio
The more that Virginia news outlets cover the ins and outs of energy, the more Virginians will understand where our electricity comes from and whether these sources are safe, reliable and affordable for all. So tune in to this recent five-part series highlighting the opportunities and obstacles for clean energy in the commonwealth.
Supreme Court Rejects Spruce Mine Mountaintop Removal Case
The U.S. Supreme Court says it won’t consider the case of Mingo Logan Coal Co. v. EPA, a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to veto mountaintop removal permits. In this case, the permits in question are for Arch Coal’s Spruce Mine No. 1 — the largest mountaintop removal project ever proposed in West Virginia.
