Posts Tagged ‘abandoned mine lands’
Revitalizing Appalachia from the ground up
In February, a bill was introduced in Congress that would expedite funding to clean up old coal mining sites and redevelop them specifically to foster economic growth. The RECLAIM Act is now in committee and the language is expected to change a bit in the coming weeks. As Congress considers those changes, lawmakers should look to communities impacted by the coal industry, in Appalachia and across the country, whose perspective is vital to the bill’s success.
Read MoreFederal Support for Clean Energy Financing and other shorts
Federal support for clean energy financing, carbon emissions from coal mine drainage, new pollution controls for a proposed natural gas plant and more short stories.
Read MoreNew SWVa project shows top spots for turning old coal mines into economic drivers
Contact: Adam Wells, Economic Diversification Program Coordinator (o) 276-679 1691, (m) 804-240-4372, [email protected] Norton, VA — Appalachian Voices today released preliminary findings in an ongoing review of abandoned coal mine lands in Southwest Virginia to identify the best potential sites for reclamation and redevelopment for positive economic benefit for the region. The nonprofit organization partnered…
Read MoreRECLAIMing Central Appalachia
From The Appalachian Voice: A rare bipartisan proposal aims to tackle two pressing issues related to the flailing coal industry — the need for new economic opportunities in central Appalachia and repairing environmental damage from decades of mining.
Read MoreRECLAIMing Central Appalachia
A rare bipartisan proposal aims to tackle two pressing issues related to the flailing coal industry — the need for new economic opportunities in central Appalachia and repairing environmental damage from decades of mining.
Read MoreBill Aims to Boost Local Appalachian Economies
The RECLAIM Act, introduced in early February by Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), would accelerate the release of $1 billion from the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund over the next five years and could help revitalize the economics in many areas impacted by coal’s decline.
Read MoreAppalachians Look to Branch Out from Coal-Based Economy
Contact: Adam Wells, Appalachian Voices, (276) 679-1691, [email protected] Gabby Gillespie, The Alliance for Appalachia, (276) 220-5048, [email protected] Eric Dixon, Appalachian Citizens Law Center, (865) 202-8688, [email protected] Two dozen local government entities in the heart of Central Appalachia’s coalfields have passed resolutions calling for major federal investment to revive the region’s economy, which is struggling in…
Read MoreReport Analyzes Economic Impact of Abandoned Mine Lands Program
A new report examines how federal funding to remediate abandoned mine lands could be implemented in a way that helps Appalachian communities struggling with coal’s decline.
Read MoreA “golden opportunity” in disguise
In 2013, federal funds derived from a per-ton fee on mined coal were distributed to Central Appalachia states for restoring abandoned mine lands. The result was $182 million in economic benefit and 1,317 jobs–plus cleaner streams, and a healthier future for nearby residents. A new report out shows how the federal program should be fixed to yield even better results, and sooner.