Posts Tagged ‘southwest virginia’
Southwest Virginia schools, local governments urge fair access to solar
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, New Economy Program Manager Appalachian Voices chelsea@appvoices.org 276-207-9636 NORTON, VA. – Several school boards and counties in Southwest Virginia are calling on local leaders and Appalachian Power Company to allow fair access to solar energy for their public facilities in the utility’s Southwest Virginia territory. The Wise County and Tazewell County school…
Read MoreSolar Workgroup of Southwest Va hosts info session for businesses, nonprofits and government
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, New Economy Program Manager chelsea@appvoices.org 276-207-9636 Norton, VA — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia will host a virtual information session on September 30 at 10:30am for non-residential building owners interested in pursuing cost-effective solar projects. The event is part of the workgroup’s recently announced Securing Solar For Southwest Virginia program, which…
Read MorePushing back on Appalachian Power’s unfair solar restrictions for schools and governments
Appalachian Power Company is blocking local schools and municipal governments from installing solar. But these public entities have the opportunity to strike a better deal during upcoming contract negotiations with the obstructionist utility.
Read MoreUnique partnership will bring 10 megawatts of solar, new jobs to Virginia coalfields
CONTACT: Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, cat@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373 Erik Curren, Secure Futures, erik@securefutures.solar, 540-466-6128 **Photos, graphics and a recording of this press tele-conference are available in this Google folder.** Norton, Va. — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia today announced an innovative partnership with Secure Futures to provide commercial-scale solar installations in the coalfield region that…
Read MoreRestoring Appalachia through outdoor recreation
The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition held a webinar in May in which regional organizations including Appalachian Voices spoke on innovative mine reclamation work being done to turn coal-impacted lands into outdoor recreation hot spots.
Read MoreVirginia commission advances solar in coalfield region
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, Appalachian Voices New Economy Program Manager, chelsea@appvoices.org, 276-207-9636 Southwest Virginia’s coal-bearing region is significantly closer to reaping the benefits of rooftop solar on businesses, nonprofits, schools and other government buildings. The Virginia State Corporation Commission on Friday issued an order updating guidelines for its renewable energy pilot program for third-party power purchase…
Read MoreVirginia opens the door for independent proposals for solar projects in Southwest Virginia
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes 276-207-9636 chelsea@appvoices.org Cat McCue 434-293-6373 cat@appvoices.org The Virginia State Corporation Commission has announced that it is re-opening acceptance of registrations for third-party, non-utility owners of solar generation through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The pilot program has been closed to registrations since January when the previous state limit on such arrangements was reached.…
Read MoreOld Dominion Power raises rates on Southwest Virginians amid economic crisis
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes New Economy Program Manager chelsea@appvoices.org 276-679-1691 The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved a rate increase request from Old Dominion Power, which will add about $20 to average residential monthly bills in its Southwest Virginia service effective May 1. The move came despite a plea from the region’s state legislators that the…
Read MoreSouthwest Virginia seeks partners for solar development
CONTACT: Adam Wells, Regional Director of Community and Economic Development, adam@appvoices.org, 276-679-1691 Norton, VA — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia today released a Request for Information (RFI) for a “co-development concept” for commercial-scale solar projects throughout the seven-county coalfield region. The workgroup seeks to enter into an agreement to collaboratively identify, design and develop…
Read MoreCompanies play hot potato with unreclaimed Blackjewel mines
Virginia regulators, a surety insurance company, and two coal companies are playing hot potato with 22 of bankrupt Blackjewel’s coal permits — and none of them want to be left with the responsibility of reclaiming the sites.
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