Posts Tagged ‘Coal’
Kentucky Governor Under Suit for Pro-Coal Corruption
Former Mine Permits director Ron Mills claims he was fired for failing to sign illegal coal mining permits. Mills was a political appointee of Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, whose official website states: As governor, Beshear has helped restore public trust by creating a culture of integrity in state government that has included rooting out cronyism…
Read MoreAV, Citizens Groups Oppose TVA’s Rush to Judgement
>>>Proud to join Sierra and TCWN on this important effort. It’s a simple choice. TVA should be putting money into energy efficiency programs rather than trying to extend the life of an expensive, inefficient, dirty coal plant like Gallatin. – jw
Read MoreA Chance to Learn and Share at Weekend in Wise
The annual Weekend in Wise County event, hosted by the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, is more than an opportunity for people to witness mountaintop removal coal mining and what it leaves behind for the people of Appalachia. It is an opportunity to meet an amazing community trying to raise their families in an environment where…
Read MoreNew Studies Reveal Another Toxic Page in the Coal Ash Chronicles
The latest independent study of water quality among 11 North Carolina lakes and rivers downstream from coal-fired power plants’ coal ash ponds revealed “high levels of contaminants that in several cases exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines for drinking water and ecological effects.” Coal ash, the toxic byproduct of burning coal for electricity, is…
Read MoreWelcome to Virginia’s Energy Conference, with your host King Coal
Last week, Appalachian Voices and members of the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition attended the Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s Energy Conference. Looking at the agenda, we were prepared for what would surely be a biased conference. But we didn’t know it would be this bad. At every stage of the conference, the coal companies and…
Read MoreBig Coal Wins Latest Battle to Blast Historic Blair Mountain
Is nothing sacred to coal companies in Appalachia? In a jaw-dropping display of contempt and disregard for the communities and landscapes where they mine coal, three coal companies back in 2009 challenged the listing of West Virginia’s Blair Mountain on the National Register of Historic Places. The companies, including mining behemoths Alpha Natural Resources and…
Read MoreLandmark Settlement Proposed in Kentucky Water Pollution Case
Appalachian Voices, along with a coalition of citizens’ groups, has reached a historic agreement with International Coal Group, Inc. (ICG), and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet over years of false reporting and water pollution violations in Eastern Kentucky and a failure by the state to enforce the Clean Water Act. We are very glad…
Read MoreReport Exposes How Big Coal, Electric Utility Money Dominates Virginia Politics and Policy
In advance of the Governor’s Energy Conference that is sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power, Alpha Natural Resources and Appalachian Power Company, Appalachian Voices and our allies released a white paper highlighting the influence that coal companies and utilities wield over Virginia energy policy. “The top sponsors of the energy conference are also top sponsors of…
Read MoreRevealing the True Cost of Coal by Taking the “Con” Out of Economics
At the Democratic National Convention, Appalachian Voices’ staff attended and participated in several panel discussions and events relevant to our work. Perhaps the most engaging forum that I was fortunate enough to attend was the “Summit for a Sustainable Economy,” hosted by the American Sustainable Business Council. Shortly after I arrived, flipped through the materials…
Read MoreSusan Lapis, Volunteer Southwings Pilot, Given Prestigious Aviation Award
Earlier this month, Volunteer Pilot Susan Lapis was awarded the 2012 “Distinguished Volunteer Pilot” award from the National Aeronautic Association and the Air Care Alliance as part of their Public Benefit Flying Awards Program. For over a decade, Susan has been giving flyovers of mountaintop removal coal mining sites through her work with Southwings where…
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