Front Porch Blog
Updates from Appalachia
Stopping a massive fracked-gas pipeline takes a village
Some organize community meetings, some drive for hours to testify at hearings, some pray, some rally, some give detailed research to government agencies, some file lawsuits — and some occupy tree-sits in protest. All stand against the unneeded, dangerous fracked-gas Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Company’s bankruptcy makes it harder for residents to address problems with nearby mines
People living near a pair of Virginia mountaintop removal coal mines have long complained about blasting and dust. Now, the company’s bankruptcy makes it even harder for nearby residents to get relief.
Virginia regulators poised to grant mining permits to questionable company
As companies go bankrupt, they tend to pass off their mine mining permits — and the responsibility to reclaim them — to increasingly questionable entities. This is currently unfolding in Southwest Virginia, if the state mining agency allows it.
Southwest Virginia schools and local governments call for fair solar policies
Several public entities in the region are urging Appalachian Power Company to loosen their restrictive solar policies. On the sunnier side, Appalachian Voices and Iron Works Cycling secured a $25,000 grant for a solar array on the Big Stone Gap, Va., bicycle shop.
Change on the horizon: Securing progress during the Biden administration
Securing progress for our region depends on our ability to remain committed to our shared values and to stand united as we advocate for a healthier, stronger, and more just future for Appalachia.
