New Virginia law sets up stakeholder process to diversify coal region’s economy

CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, Legislative Director, chelsea@appvoices.org, 614-205-6424 Governor Northam has signed into law a bill, passed by the General Assembly during the 2021 session, that ends decades-old tax credits for the coal industry and establishes a stakeholder process to inform economic development and transition in Southwest Virginia. The governor signed the bill on Thursday. Ending…

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Fossil fuels in Virginia

In a letter to the editor of the New York Times, Appalachian Voices’ Executive Director Tom Cormons says the 2019 election for state legislative offices is a clear mandate for energy utility reform in Virginia.

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Virginia Gov. Northam announces climate goals for 2050

CONTACTS: Cat McCue, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Today, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed Executive Order 43, setting a goal for the commonwealth to achieve 100 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2050. Statement from Appalachian Voices Executive Director Tom Cormons: This announcement from the Northam administration underscores that Virginia must chart a course for a cleaner, healthier and more…

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Virginia water board abandons pursuit of Mountain Valley Pipeline permit revocation

Today, the Virginia State Water Control Board unanimously voted to reverse course in pursuing revocation of Mountain Valley Pipeline’s Clean Water Act § 401 certification. In December, 2018, the board voted 4-3 to consider revoking the project’s certification, but today, after nearly four hours of deliberation with a representative of the Attorney General’s office, the…

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Buckingham rises up with visit from Rev. Barber, Al Gore

Civil rights and climate activists Rev. William Barber and former Vice President Al Gore drew more than 1,000 people to a town hall meeting in Buckingham, Va., to highlight the environmental racism of the proposed frack-gas compressor station in the African-American community of Union Hill.

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Thousands call on Gov. Northam to protect Virginia waters from fracked-gas pipelines

Richmond, Va. — Citizens representing Virginia landowners, the faith community, scientists, people of color, water protectors and clean energy advocates today called on Governor Ralph Northam to protect Virginia’s waters by taking immediate action on the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines. The action comes the morning after Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality approved…

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