I joined Appalachian Voices to help steer Appalachian Power and Dominion Virginia Power toward clean energy. Over the recent winter break, I got a jump on this massive undertaking in what may seem an unusual way: by becoming utterly engrossed in a “Doctor Who” marathon. I maintain that it was time well-spent in the fight for clean energy sources and efficiency for the Old Dominion.
Blog Archives
Hannah Wiegard: Binge-watching “Doctor Who” and Bettering Virginia’s Energy Options
TAGS: Appalachian Voices Climate change Coal Electric Utilities Energy Efficiency Mountaintop Removal Virginia
Former Coal Regulator Shows How Little He Knows About Coal Regulation
More than 2,000 miles of Appalachian streams have been buried or poisoned by the valley fills associated with mountaintop removal mining. Yet, despite touting his credentials as a former coal regulator, Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) believes that current stream protections are sufficient and dumping mining waste into streams is illegal.
McAuliffe Lauds Carbon Capture Technology, But Coal’s Impacts Go Beyond CO2 Pollution
Virginia Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe claims that “we need to build on the assets we have” by using carbon capture technology. But carbon pollution isn’t the only measure of coal’s impact on Virginia. Continuing to mine and burn coal will still cause serious problems: more destructive mountaintop removal, toxic mining waste, air and water pollution from power plants, all while southwestern Virginia continues to feel the worst effects of deferring a cleaner energy future.
For Patriot Coal, Ending Mountaintop Removal is a “Win-Win”
A little more than a year ago, Patriot Coal announced it would phase out its use of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia as part of a settlement with environmental groups over selenium pollution. Taken at face value, statements made at that time by Patriot’s CEO Bennett Hatfield held promise that the movement against mountaintop removal, focused on exposing the poor economics as well as the irreversible environmental impacts of the destructive practice, had reached a pivotal turning point.
Appalachian Voices and Partners Challenge Kentucky’s Weakening of Water Pollution Standards for Selenium
Earlier today Appalachian Voices and a number of partner organizations sued the EPA over their approval of Kentucky’s new, weaker standard for selenium pollution. Selenium is extremely toxic to fish, and causes deformities and reproductive failure at extremely low levels.…
TAGS: Appalachian Voices Appalachian Water Watch EPA Kentucky Kentucky Litigation Mountaintop Removal Selenium Water Water Pollution
Groups Challenge EPA Decision to Gut Clean Water Protections in Kentucky
Resources View the Complaint Here EPA Approval Letter Selenium Fact Sheet New Guidelines for Coal Mining Pollutant Fail to Protect Waterways and Wildlife Contacts: Eric Chance, Appalachian Voices 828-262-1500 eric@appvoices.org Sean Sarah, Sierra Club 330 338-3740 sean.sarah@sierraclub.org Doug Doerrfeld, Kentuckians…
TAGS: Appalachian Voices Appalachian Water Watch Clean Water Act Coal Ash EPA Kentucky Kentucky Litigation Mountaintop Removal Selenium Water Water Pollution
A Science of Responsibility:
Dr. Ben Stout’s Dedication to Community-Based Research By Brian Sewell Dr. Ben Stout, a stream ecologist and professor of biology at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, is as at home in nearby communities as he is in the classroom.…
TAGS: appalachia Clean Water Act Coal coal ash slurry ecology environmental education Hydraulic Fracturing Massey Energy Mountaintop Removal Pennsylvania Water quality West Virginia
Teacher, Wife, Activist, Mother:
Wilma Lee Steele Turns Focus to Healing By Molly Moore For Wilma Lee Steele, the devastation wrought by mountaintop removal coal mining can’t be measured solely by polluted streams or transformed ridgelines. For someone as spiritually connected to the mountains…
TAGS: Activism Citizen action Coal Coal mining environmental education Mountaintop Removal West Virginia
Paige Cordial: Minding Mental Health
By Rachel Ellen Simon Post-traumatic stress disorder is most commonly associated with soldiers who have seen combat, but psychologist Paige Cordial has found similar symptoms in the coalfields of Appalachia. Cordial recently received her doctorate in counseling psychology at Virginia’s…
TAGS: Health health problems mental health Mountaintop Removal Mountaintop removal health impacts Paige Cordial Virginia
No Coalfields Expressway in Virginia: Rally to Stop the Hijack!
The Coalfields Expressway, more aptly nicknamed the “Road to Ruin” by its opponents, threatens Southwest Virginia with new mountaintop removal coal mines and weakened local economies. That’s why more than 89,000 Americans oppose the project and more than 75 defenders…
