The U.S. Department of the Interior ordered the National Academy of Sciences to halt its review of the links between mountaintop removal coal mining and human health impacts.
Blog Archives
White House halts review of mountaintop removal health impacts
TAGS: Air Pollution Coal Congress Environment Health Kentucky Mountaintop Removal Tennessee Virginia Water Pollution West Virginia
Member Spotlight: Lucy and Rich Henighan
Lucy and Rich Henighan — Appalachian Voices members since 1999 — are making a difference in East Tennessee.
In Tennessee, Powell Valley Electric Co-op members speak out
Electric co-ops are governed by boards who are democratically elected, and therefore supposedly responsive to their customers, who are also co-owners of these utilities. The Powell Valley Electric Cooperative in east Tennessee has stirred grave concern with its herbicide spraying policy, and members are speaking out.
Report finds thousands in western N.C. and eastern Tenn. need energy efficiency financing
CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, Appalachian Voices Energy Savings Program Manager, rory@appvoices.org, (828) 262-1500 Boone, N.C. — A program that pays for the upfront cost of home energy improvements could lower monthly bills for thousands of families in western North Carolina while…
TAGS: electric co-ops electric cooperative Energy Efficiency french broad electric North Carolina on-bill on-bill financing rural Tennessee
Tennessee Advances Partial Privatization of Fall Creek Falls State Park
The state of Tennessee is moving forward with plans to privatize hospitality facilities at Fall Creek Falls State Park, while park employees and local officials have expressed concerns.
Surface Mining Banned in 75,000 Acres of Tennessee, But New Mine Proposed
In December 2016, mountaintop removal coal mining was banned from 75,000 acres in East Tennessee. Yet other mining permits continue to be issued.
Mountaintop removal limited — not stopped — in Tennessee
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.
TAGS: Cooper Ridge Cumberland Plateau Department of Interior mountaintop removal coal mining Tennessee
Devastating Forest Fires Ignite Southeast
Numerous forest fires burned across the Southeast throughout the autumn. Nearly 120,000 acres of forest burned, and the city of Gatlinburg, Tenn., was badly damaged, with 14 lives lost.
TAGS: Alabama Forest Fires Gatlinburg Georgia Kentucky North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Virginia West Virginia
America’s miners deserve better than this; time to do your part
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.
O’ TVA where art thou?
The Tennessee Valley Authority was created in the 1930s to bring cheap electricity to the most rural reaches of the Tennessee River valley. Almost a century later, many residents are struggling to pay electric bills that can be hundreds of dollars a month for their modest homes. Utility-sponsored financing to help with energy-efficiency improvements would go a long way.
TAGS: claiborne county Energy Efficiency Energy Savings Powell Valley southern alliance for Tennessee Tennessee Valley Authority TVA weatherization
