The Advocate — Issue #117

May 25, 2019

Unprecedented alliance for energy reform in Virginia

Appalachian Voices has joined with eight other organizations from across the ideological spectrum to launch a major initiative to increase clean energy competition and protect consumer interests in Virginia’s energy system.

[ Read about the Virginia Energy Reform Coalition ]

Monopoly power play: The latest on Duke Energy’s bad rate bill

A bill in North Carolina that would allow monopolies like Duke Energy to raise rates and charge residents for coal ash cleanup is being championed by some of the officials elected to guard against such shenanigans. But a movement is afoot to thwart this plan and ensure North Carolinians do not shoulder the bill for Duke’s shareholder profits.

[ Details of the bill and how we got here ]
[ NC RESIDENTS TAKE ACTION: Help us stop SB 559 ]

Kentucky to spend AML funds on federal prison

In a decades-old pattern of selling prisons to rural communities with the promise of economic stability, Kentucky officials intend to use $5 million in Abandoned Mine Land Pilot funds to build water and sewer lines for the proposed Letcher penitentiary, a project that does not support true economic renewal or justice.

[ Read more ]

Virginia solar group recognized in national competition

The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia (co-convened by Appalachian Voices) was recently awarded a “Solar Discovery” prize for identifying solar projects in Virginia’s coalfield counties that would create jobs and benefit local communities, including construction of a 3-megawatt project slated to begin by the end of this year.

[ Read about our solar win! ]
[ Solar projects shine in Southwest Virginia ]

Hiking historic Harlan County, Ky.

The largest old-growth forest in Kentucky is found in the most famous — or notorious — coal-mining county in Appalachia, once known as “Bloody Harlan.” Trails in Blanton Forest State Preserve feature breathtaking views and rare, biodiverse mesophytic forest species.

[ Take a hike in Blanton Forest ]
[ Check out our archive of other great hikes! ]

Virginians For Justice: Progress Not Pipelines!

Hundreds of people joined together for two days of action calling on state leaders to stop fracked-gas pipeline projects that would disproportionately harm communities of color. On the first day, people of all faiths and backgrounds marched along the same route the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign took as they entered Richmond on their march for justice.

[ See photos and video clips ]

Celebrate the Summer of Sound! Become a member at the $50 level or above by May 31 and we’ll enter you into a drawing for two tickets to Red Wing Roots Music Festival in beautiful Mt. Solon, Va., July 12-14.

JOIN NOW!

Raise Our Voice!
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