The Advocate – Issue #111

November 24, 2018

Stream crossing permit for Atlantic Coast Pipeline suspended

An essential permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline was suspended on Wednesday, effectively shutting down work at more than 1,500 stream and wetland crossings along the fracked gas line’s 600-mile route through West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina.

[ Read the latest ]

VA governor dismisses regulators who expressed concerns over pipelines

Just three weeks before the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board was to issue a final permitting decision on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s Buckingham Compressor Station, Gov. Ralph Northam dismissed three regulators who had expressed concerns over the state’s pipeline projects.

[ Learn more | TAKE ACTION: Contact Gov. Northam ]

New report: Innovative Mine Reclamation in Appalachia

Twenty abandoned and polluted coal mine sites in Appalachia were identified for innovative economic development in the latest study by a coalition of groups including Appalachian Voices. “This report marks an important step as Appalachia citizens continue to re-imagine and work toward a future of sustainable and healthy local economies, where young people can find meaningful work and stay to raise their own families,” says Adam Wells with Appalachian Voices.

[ Read more | Download the report ]

Solar heats up in Southwest Virginia

The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia was recently awarded a bid to negotiate contracts for six solar installations in Southwest Virginia. If all go through, the projects would total 1.5 megawatts of developed solar in the region.

[ Learn more ]

Lawsuit against unlawful mining on Coal River Mountain

Appalachian Voices, Coal River Mountain Watch and the Sierra Club recently filed a federal lawsuit against mining company Republic Energy seeking to halt unlawful coal mining activities in Raleigh County, W.Va. Republic Energy is mining one of the only remaining intact ridges on the heavily mined Coal River Mountain without a valid mine permit.

[ Read the release ]

The problem with monopoly utilities

Our energy options and prices are determined by where we live and what utility monopoly is in charge. These electric utilities — whether they are private companies or nonprofit cooperatives — are supposed to be accountable to the people they serve. But the system often does not work in your favor.

[ Read more in The Appalachian Voice ]

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New tool shows N.C. co-op is worst in Southeast on solar

Blue Ridge Energy, an electric cooperative in northwestern North Carolina, has one of the worst solar energy policies of all electric utilities in the Southeast, a new interactive tool by Southern Environmental Law Center shows. The co-op earned the ranking because of high fees levied on members who install solar energy on their homes.

[ Read more and find out how your utility stacks up ]

Help us continue to protect the mountains for future generations — support our work for clean air, clean water, clean energy and a renewed economy for Appalachia!

Donate today!

Appalachian Voices Annual Membership Meeting
Join us Thurs., Dec. 13 to learn more about our work to advance a clean energy future for the region. Participate in one of our offices or join us online!

NOW Hiring!
Appalachian Voices is hiring for two positions, including a development associate and a Tennessee VISTA. Learn more and apply now!