Energy Report Newsbites

Jobs in solar outnumber coal in Virginia; U.S. Dept. of Energy seeks to extract rare earth elements from coal; U.S. Dept. of Interior pans to accelerate drilling for oil and gas on federal lands; Duke Energy withdraws plan to add chemical compounds to coal-fired power plants that would have threatened drinking water.

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Protect natural resources for Southwest Virginia’s future

For all my life, the coal economy has ruled this region and its people,” writes Ron Short of Danville, Va., in a letter supporting the Stream Protection Rule. “Now we are facing the demise of the coal industry, and we must save the valuable natural resources that we have left if we are ever to develop cultural tourism and eco-tourism as important parts of a new economy that works for everyone.”

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Fighting for clean water after the Stream Protection Rule

When Congress voted last week to overturn the Stream Protection Rule, people braced themselves for the coming impacts. But threats to public water from corporate and political interests are nothing new in Central Appalachia, nor is the problem unique to this area. In the face of these threats, communities fighting for clean water need our continued support.

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Final Stream Protection Rule released

On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Interior released the Stream Protection Rule, which aims to protect streams from the impacts of surface and longwall mining. The final rule offers only modest improvements to protections for public waterways, but it is well worth defending from congressional attack.

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