One million N.C. households at risk of losing electricity and water during pandemic

CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, Sr. Energy Analyst, Appalachian Voices, rory@appvoices.org, (423) 433-9415 Al Ripley, Director, Consumer, Housing and Energy Project, NC Justice Center, al@ncjustice.org, (919) 274-8245 William Barber, III, Environmental Justice Committee Co-Chair, NC Poor People’s Campaign, william.barber.iii@gmail.com, (202) 567-6800 Maria Michalos, Eastern Regional Communications Manager, Natural Resources Defense Council, mmichalos@nrdc.org, (631) 848-1588 Raleigh, N.C. —…

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RECLAIM Act passes the House as part of larger bill

CONTACT: Dana Kuhnline, RECLAIM Campaign Coordinator 304-825-3262 dana@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Sr. Communications and Public Engagement Strategist 434-293-6373 cat@appvoices.org The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the RECLAIM Act (HR 2156) as part of The Moving Forward Act (HR 2), a bill to address America’s infrastructure needs and create jobs in the wake of the economic…

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Va should expand utility shutoff ban during Covid-19 crisis

protester in car

CONTACT: Peter Anderson, Senior Program Manager Virginia, 434-293-6373, peter@appvoices.org Rory McIlmoil, Senior Energy Analyst, 828-262-1500, rory@appvoices.org Appalachian Voices sent a letter today to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) urging the commissioners to extend and strengthen the existing moratorium on water, gas and electric utility disconnections and late payment fees to protect families who are…

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NC governor extends moratorium on utility shutoffs during Covid crisis

protester in car

CONTACT: Al Ripley, Director, NC Justice Center, Director of Housing, Consumer and Energy Project, 919-274-8245 Rory McIlmoil, Appalachian Voices, Senior Energy Analyst, 828-266-1500 Tyler Fitch, Vote Solar, Southeast Regulatory Manager; Press contact Hilary Lewis, 202-455-0361 Luis Martinez, Natural Resources Defense Council, Senior Attorney and Director Southeast Energy; Press contact Maria Michalos, 631-848-1588 N.C. Governor Roy…

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Groups urge expansion of NC utility shutoff moratorium during Covid-19

CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, Sr. Energy Analyst, Appalachian Voices, rory@appvoices.org, (423) 433-9415 Maria Michalos, Eastern Regional Communications Manager, Natural Resources Defense Council, mmichalos@nrdc.org, (631) 848-1588 Al Ripley, Director, Consumer, Housing and Energy Project, NC Justice Center, al@ncjustice.org, (919) 274-8245 Hilary Lewis, Communications Director, Vote Solar, hilary@votesolar.org, (202) 455-0361 *NOTE: The letter to the governor was updated…

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Coal miners call on Congress for support amidst dual threats from black lung and COVID-19

complicated black lung disease

CONTACT: Rebecca Shelton, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, rshelton@aclc.org Willie Dodson, Appalachian Voices, willie@appvoices.org (NOTE: Several miners and their family members are available for interviews; images are also available; please contact Rebecca or Willie.) The president of the Black Lung Association (BLA), members of Women of Black Lung, and officers of eleven local BLA chapters across…

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Groups call for stop to electricity cutoffs in Tennessee Valley due to pandemic

CONTACT: Daniel Tait, Energy Alabama dtait@alcse.org (256) 812-1431 Bri Knisley, Appalachian Voices brianna@appvoices.org (865) 219-3225 More than a dozen organizations in Tennessee and Alabama have called on the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association (TVPPA) to urge its member utilities to immediately halt service disconnection and late fees for families during the coronavirus pandemic. In a…

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NC governor orders halt to utility shutoffs during pandemic

CONTACT: Al Ripley, Director Consumer, Housing and Energy Project NC Justice Center (919) 274-8245 al@ncjustice.org Rory McIlmoil, Senior Energy Analyst Appalachian Voices (828) 262-3385 rory@appvoices.org Today, Gov. Roy Cooper announced an order directing all electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities operating in the state to suspend service shutoffs, late payment fees and reconnection fees to…

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