The Front Porch Blog, with Updates from AppalachiaThe Front Porch Blog, with Updates from Appalachia

‘A moral imperative:’ Two bills would support miners with black lung and their families

Thursday, January 4th, 2024 | Posted by Quenton King | No Comments

Dec. 13 was a day that Vonda Robinson had been waiting over three years for. On that day, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., introduced the Relief for Survivors of Miners Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. [ Read More ]


Reliance on fossil fuels was last year’s Grinch that stole Christmas — and the real cause of Winter Storm Elliot blackouts

Thursday, December 21st, 2023 | Posted by Naomi Albert | No Comments

On Dec. 24, 2022, as Winter Storm Elliot bore down on North Carolina and Tennessee, problems at fossil-fuel power plants and high electricity demand led Duke Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority to shut off power for millions with rolling blackouts. But it didn't have to be this way. [ Read More ]


Communities continue to seek safety measures for Mountain Valley Pipeline

Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 | Posted by Jessica Sims | 4 Comments

Along the route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, citizen monitors have watched a frenzy of workers hurriedly lower sun-bleached and degraded pipe into trenches, burying as much material as possible. Although safety concerns led the agency tasked with pipe safety, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, to issue a consent agreement, the agreement has not brought peace of mind. [ Read More ]


No time to waste averting another coal mine cleanup crisis

Friday, December 15th, 2023 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments

Regulators are ignoring a growing crisis unfolding in modern mine reclamation. Coal companies are often failing to complete timely reclamation, and safeguards to ensure mine cleanup are failing. Communities are already seeing a new, more devastating wave of abandoned mines — a problem that will get worse without action. [ Read More ]


ReImagining Your Community with the help of EPA’s Environmental and Justice Community Change Grants

Wednesday, December 13th, 2023 | Posted by Guest Contributor | No Comments

The EPA’s Community Change Grants could be an opportunity to engage key community stakeholders in strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to promote climate resilience, and to simultaneously create good jobs for local residents. Check out the ReImagine Your Community resource page for resources to help guide community visioning and project development. [ Read More ]


Proposals to put new nuclear reactors near coal mine sites ignore geological hazards

Wednesday, November 29th, 2023 | Posted by Matt Wasson | 2 Comments

In October 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a goal of building a new nuclear reactor in Southwest Virginia within the next 10 years, setting off a flurry of excitement among local economic development officials and outrage among local residents who are concerned about the health and safety risks of nuclear power. [ Read More ]


Community celebrates opening of new recreation area in Dante, Virginia

Thursday, November 16th, 2023 | Posted by Rance Garrison | No Comments

This new recreation area features approximately 16 miles of new trails that will connect to existing trails around the nearby town of Saint Paul, and the campground features full amenities. [ Read More ]


In a moment of climate crisis, Dominion wants to move Virginia backwards

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 | Posted by Jessica Sims | No Comments

These developments support the Virginia-wide shift towards clean, renewable energy and Dominion Energy had seemingly embraced this transition, expanding its own solar and wind facilities. But, alarmingly Dominion is now trying to reverse course in Chesterfield and construct a new harmful methane gas “peaker” plant, mere miles from the old plant. [ Read More ]


Movements to stop TVA’s gas buildout gain momentum ahead of critical year

Tuesday, November 14th, 2023 | Posted by Jen Lawhorne | 7 Comments

Campaigns to stop Tennessee Valley Authority’s proposed methane gas buildout are closing out 2023 with some major developments and eyeing next year as pivotal. [ Read More ]


Guest post: Apply for a bonus 10 to 20% credit for solar project funding

Thursday, October 19th, 2023 | Posted by Guest Contributor | No Comments

Low-income communities across Appalachia can apply for a bonus 10 to 20% tax credit available to eligible solar projects. There’s a limited priority application window for this tax credit, which can be stacked on top of other solar incentives! [ Read More ]


What’s going on with Duke Energy?

Tuesday, October 17th, 2023 | Posted by Maddy Koch | No Comments

Duke Energy is the largest electricity provider in North Carolina, and we believe Duke is not doing enough to help with increasing renewable energy in the state or keeping energy bills low for all customers. [ Read More ]


A step forward for clean water protections, but threats remain

Friday, October 6th, 2023 | Posted by Chelsea Barnes | 1 Comment

In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a new rule that restores certain protections for water under the Clean Water Act. The changes in the rule will give states and tribes more oversight over water protection within their boundaries. [ Read More ]



 

 


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