A special note from Executive Director Tom Cormons wishing you a happy holiday season and looking forward to 2017. [ Read More ]
Happy Holidays from our family to yours
Friday, December 23rd, 2016 | Posted by Tom Cormons | No Comments
Mountaintop removal limited — not stopped — in Tennessee
Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 | Posted by Elizabeth E. Payne | No Comments
The Obama administration has approved a petition from Tennessee to designate some 75,000 acres of mountain ridges off limits for surface coal mining. The move protects mountain streams, wildlife habitat, scenic views and eco-tourism assets of the iconic Cumberland Plateau. But other mountains in Tennessee are still threatened with mountaintop removal mining. Take action today. [ Read More ]
Final Stream Protection Rule released
Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Interior released the Stream Protection Rule, which aims to protect streams from the impacts of surface and longwall mining. The final rule offers only modest improvements to protections for public waterways, but it is well worth defending from congressional attack. [ Read More ]
Why is Dominion’s IRP important for Virginia’s future?
Friday, December 16th, 2016 | Posted by Peter Anderson | No Comments
In Virginia, electric utilities providing public services are regulated to ensure that they balance reliability, sustainability, and affordability. That balancing act is what "integrated resource planning" is all about. In this blog, we dive into the recent plan from Dominion Virginia Power, the heavyweight in the state's electric sector whose choices affect not only its customers, but virtually all of us, and our environment. [ Read More ]
Trouble is afoot in NC special session
Thursday, December 15th, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments
After days of deflecting questions and refusing to explain their priorities for the “emergency session,” Republicans introduced a slew of bills that would make sweeping changes and dramatically shift the balance of power away from the governor. Take action to stop this blatant abuse of power. [ Read More ]
Lighting up the night with the Daylight Savings Challenge
Wednesday, December 14th, 2016 | Posted by Katie Kienbaum | No Comments
To make this winter a little easier for folks in Boone, N.C. facing high energy bills, Appalachian Voices devised the Daylight Savings Challenge. Five student volunteers helped us distribute energy efficient LED light bulbs to seniors. All together, the project should save the residents at least $280 a year. That translates to about 1.75 tons of coal that won’t get burned and more than four tons of carbon dioxide pollution that won’t contribute to climate change [ Read More ]
America’s miners deserve better than this; time to do your part
Thursday, December 8th, 2016 | Posted by Thom Kay | No Comments
America owes a debt to the nation’s coal miners. The Miners Protection Act would begin to pay that debt, but the opportunity for Congress to pass the bill is quickly slipping away. [ Read More ]
Trump’s pick for Commerce has troubled history in coal
Monday, December 5th, 2016 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Wilbur Ross -- a man who helmed a large Kentucky coal company with a troubled history of environmental and miner safety violations -- has been chosen to be the next U.S. Secretary of Commerce. If President-elect Trump truly believes that economic growth and opportunity can only be gained at the expense of worker safety, community health and clean water, he could make no better pick than Ross. [ Read More ]
Boone team moves to new office
Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
Our headquarters located in Boone, N.C., has a new home! The staff office is now located at 589 West King Street, right in the heart of the downtown district. [ Read More ]
What we do now — a note from Executive Director Tom Cormons
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016 | Posted by Tom Cormons | No Comments
I believe deeply in Appalachian Voices’ longstanding mission to bring people together for the well-being of Appalachian communities, our shared natural heritage and our children’s futures. In stark contrast, the presidential election has underscored and exaggerated our differences, overshadowing the many fundamental values we share. But being discouraged is not an option. Instead, we must join together like never before. [ Read More ]
French Broad communities broadly support on-bill financing
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016 | Posted by Rory McIlmoil | No Comments
Our recent “French Broad Community Energy Forum” in western North Carolina brought together more than 60 residents and representatives of local government, community service agencies, and businesses to learn and talk about the advantages of providing upfront financing for residents to make home energy efficiency improvements. [ Read More ]
Southwest Virginians speak out against Doe Branch Mine
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
“God gave us the water so we can stay clean, and so we can drink it. I don’t want poison in the water.” Those are the words of 6-year-old Levi Marney, spoken to representatives of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy at a public meeting about the proposed Doe Branch mountaintop removal mine in Haysi. [ Read More ]
