Front Porch Blog
Updates from Appalachia
A bond forfeiture, unpaid fines, and a no-show: one month in the life of a Jim Justice family coal mine
As a Virginia mine continues to rack up environmental and safety problems, state regulators are proceeding with their strongest enforcement option — bond forfeiture. Based on the track record of related Justice family companies, the situation is not likely to improve.
Knoxville community groups call for affordable utilities
The Knoxville Water and Energy for All campaign is made up of community and faith groups with a mission to bring solutions to the root problems of unaffordable bills and disconnections in Knoxville.
Enforcement of mine cleanup rules is needed to protect communities, create jobs
During a recent House Natural Resources hearing on the issue of sluggish, inadequate, or totally non-existent reclamation on currently permitted coal mines, community advocates called for federal regulators to firmly enforce existing regulations and act in the public interest.
Duke Energy rate hike harms low-income families
In North Carolina, electricity rates are set through a “give and take” process that ultimately favors Duke Energy and its shareholders, and harms lower-income families. That’s got to change.
Biden must stop methane pipelines to deliver on climate change and environmental justice
In the USA Today, Indigenous leader Crystal Cavalier and climate scientist Michael Mann team up for this op-ed calling out the Mountain Valley Pipeline as a nail in America’s climate coffin and environmental injustice.
