Going solar in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia

Cover of the Solar Roadmap for Southwest Virginia

CONTACT: Adam Wells, Appalachian Voices, New Economy Program Manager, 276-679-1691, adam@appvoices.org Matt Wasson, Appalachian Voices, Director of Programs, 828-262-1500, matt@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Director of Communications, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Wise County, Va. — A group of local leaders from far Southwest Virginia has crafted a nuts-and-bolts “how-to” plan for spurring growth of the solar industry in the…

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Virginia approves draft rule to cut carbon pollution from power plants

Contact: Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Kelley Galownia, Virginia Conservation Network, 571-403-4625, Kelley@vcnva.org RICHMOND – The State Air Pollution Control Board today unanimously approved the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s proposed draft regulations under Executive Directive 11 to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants. These draft regulations serve as a critical first…

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Virginia cannot approve proposed natural gas pipelines lacking critical information about impacts on state waters

Appalachian Mountain Advocates * Chesapeake Bay Foundation * Preserve Craig * Southern Environmental Law Center * Wild Virginia Contact: Greg Buppert, Southern Environmental Law Center, 434-977-4090, gbuppert@selcva.org Ben Luckett, Appalachian Mountain Advocates, 304 645-0125, bluckett@appalmad.org Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Conservationists concerned about the two highly controversial natural gas pipelines proposed to cut hundreds…

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Seeking Opportunities in Solar Energy

Solar panels being installed

Solar energy is on the rise across the nation. According to The Solar Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing solar energy, “one out of every 50 new jobs added in the United States in 2016 was created by the solar industry.” Restrictive policies and lower population density, however, have led to solar power being…

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Va. health advocates hold coal company accountable for water pollution

Contact: Matt Hepler, 276-679-1691, matt.hepler@appvoices.org Brian Willis, 202-675-2386, Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org Isak Howell, 540-998-7744, ihowell@appalmad.org WISE, Virginia – The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia has ruled in favor of the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and Sierra Club on a citizen request for federal inspection of Red River Coal Company’s Greater Wise mine. In…

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Va. foes of Atlantic Coast Pipeline applaud N.C. delay, urge Gov. McAuliffe to likewise seek more information

CONTACT: Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, cat@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373 VIRGINIA – Late yesterday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration delayed until mid-December its decision on whether to permit the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline project, requesting additional information on its potential impact on more than 300 nearby waterways. This action follows on the heels of a move by…

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Va. regulators reject APCO’s misguided renewable energy program

SCC commissioners

Contact: Peter Anderson, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, peter@appvoices.org Yesterday, the Virginia State Corporation Commission rejected a program proposed by Appalachian Power Company that would have charged customers well above market rates if they elected the utility’s proposed program for 100% renewable energy. Appalachian Voices and others who participated in the SCC proceeding were concerned the program…

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