Thursday, August 20th, 2015 | Posted by Tarence Ray | 1 Comment
What would a health care executive-turned-environmentalist want with the dying business of mining coal? That’s the question some are asking after the announcement that a Virginia environmentalist plans to acquire assets, and assume around $400 million in liabilities, from recently-bankrupt Patriot Coal. [
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Wednesday, August 19th, 2015 | Posted by Guest Contributor | 1 Comment
Guest Contributor Dr. Diana Christopulos: Sen. Tim Kaine recently completed a series of listening sessions in communities where Mountain Valley Pipeline proposes to build a 42-inch natural gas transmission line, meeting with “affected property owners, local elected officials, local businesses, farmers, organizations dedicated to preserving our natural resources, and numerous other concerned citizens.” [
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Tuesday, August 18th, 2015 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments
In Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, cities and counties with long histories of coal mining are advocating for the POWER+ Plan, a federal budget initiative proposed by the White House to build a more diverse economy in the communities hardest hit by the regional coal industry’s decline. They deserve to be heard. [
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Friday, August 7th, 2015 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
Yesterday afternoon the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice announced a settlement with Arch Coal and International Coal Group Inc. to resolve hundreds of illegal pollution discharge violations made by the conglomerate at its coal mines throughout Appalachia, including a fine of $2 million and required upgrades to their operations to protect "communities overburdened by pollution." [
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Friday, August 7th, 2015 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
Alpha Natural Resources, one of the largest coal mining companies in the United States and a big player in the Appalachian coal market, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday of this week, blaming "an unprecedented period of distress with increased competition from natural gas, an oversupply in the global coal market, historically low prices due to weaker international and domestic economies, and increasing government regulation that has pushed electric utilities to transition away from coal-fired power plants. [
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Thursday, August 6th, 2015 | Posted by Amy Kelly | No Comments
According to a new report from Environmental Entrepreneurs, Tennessee is seeing clean energy job growth at nearly three times the rate of overall state employment growth. With the Clean Power Plan final rule released on Monday, the Volunteer state has an opportunity to not only spur job growth in renewable energy, but also adhere to the Clean Power Plan’s guidelines for reducing carbon emissions. [
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2015 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the final version of the Clean Power Plan, the first-ever national rule limiting carbon pollution from existing power plants to safeguard public health and help address climate disruption.
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Thursday, July 30th, 2015 | Posted by Tarence Ray | No Comments
A striking case of corruption related to mine inspections in Kentucky led to the recent criminal conviction of former Democratic state representative Keith Hall. But questions remain about how deep the conspiracy goes. Will Governor Steve Beshear and the state agencies that enforce mining laws in Kentucky adequately investigate? [
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 | Posted by Adam Wells | No Comments
The City of Norton, in southwest Virginia, has voted unanimously to support a federal budget proposal that would steer billions of dollars for economic development to coal-impacted communities, including in Virginia. It’s the first such local resolution in the nation supporting the White House's “POWER+ Plan." Appalachian Voices championed the resolution with Norton's leaders and commends them for leading the way on this vital issue.
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 6 Comments
The Obama administration says its draft rule, released last week, to mitigate the water quality impacts of surface coal mining represents a “balanced approach to energy development.” But there’s nothing balanced about blowing the tops off ancient mountains and jeopardizing the health of thousands of Americans. [
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Monday, July 20th, 2015 | Posted by Adam Wells | 5 Comments
Most people who live in the mountains know that just being here can have a healing effect on the soul. But not as many people know that many native plants have real medicinal properties. Growing and marketing those wild medicinal plants and herbs was the subject of a recent workshop offered by the group AppalCEED in Norton, Va. [
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Monday, July 20th, 2015 | Posted by Hannah Wiegard | No Comments
A report by Public Citizen’s Climate Program details how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's soon-to-be finalized standards on carbon pollution could lower Virginians' power bills. The strategy for achieving this benefit is simple: invest in cost-effective energy efficiency programs first. [
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