Monday, February 2nd, 2015 | Posted by Guest Contributor | No Comments
Guest Contributor Caroline Rutledge Armijo: On Sunday, Residents for Coal Ash Clean Up met on Belews Lake, overlooking the smokestacks at Duke Energy's Belews Steam Station in Stokes County, N.C. Today marks the one year anniversary of the coal ash spill into the Dan River, the third largest coal ash spill in our nation’s history but likely a drop in the bucket of what would happen if there was a spill at Belews Creek. [ Read More ]Thursday, January 8th, 2015 | Posted by Amy Adams | 4 Comments
The long-awaited, first-ever federal rule for regulating toxic coal ash--the second largest waste stream in the U.S.-- was released before the holidays. Appalachian Voices dives into the 700+-page rule and finds, yes, a number of problems, but lo ... some bright spots, too. [ Read More ]Friday, December 19th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | 1 Comment
The day we've been waiting for has finally come. No, not Friday -- the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to release its long-awaited coal ash rule. But, as expected, the EPA's new rule does not go far enough to truly fix the major pollution problems associated with coal ash including contamination of waterways and drinking water supplies.
[ Read More ]Friday, December 5th, 2014 | Posted by Sarah Kellogg | 1 Comment
As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency puts the final touches on the first-ever federal regulation of coal ash, North Carolina's response to the Dan River spill is still hotly contested and new controversies about the best ways to clean up coal ash are beginning to emerge. [ Read More ]Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments
After a tumultuous two years as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, John Skvarla is stepping over to lead the state’s Commerce Department. No word from Gov. Pat McCrory on who will replace Skvarla yet, but here’s to hoping his successor is the environmental leader DENR deserves and North Carolina desperately needs. [ Read More ]Monday, December 1st, 2014 | Posted by Kara Dodson | No Comments
Whether you're two days or 20 years deep in environmental or social justice organizing, we all ask ourselves the same question day in and day out: why do I care? Rhiannon Fionn, creator of Coal Ash Chronicles, brings the "Why I Care" video series to the social media scene in the spirit of story-sharing, collaboration, power building and advocacy. Watch a few videos and share your own story.
[ Read More ]Wednesday, November 19th, 2014 | Posted by Jaimie McGirt | 1 Comment
Wilmington, N.C., is the site of the L.V. Sutton Power Station — a retired coal-fired power plant operated by Duke Energy along the Lower Cape Fear River. Though Duke recently converted Sutton to burn natural gas, the carcinogenic-laden waste generated from decades of coal combustion remains in 135 acres on site. But this one lake, at least, is one of the few slated for cleanup in the state, while the future of 10 other sites remains a question.
[ Read More ]Wednesday, November 12th, 2014 | Posted by Sarah Kellogg | 1 Comment
Appalachian Voices lost a dear friend in late September with the passing of Annie Fulp Brown. Annie was a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. She was also a champion for her community and one of the first people in her neighborhood to speak publicly about her experience living next to the largest coal-fired power plant in North Carolina. [ Read More ]Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 | Posted by Thom Kay | 3 Comments
For the next couple of days, you’ll have a hard time looking at anything online or on TV that doesn’t try to break down the midterm elections. Most pundits will analyze what happened, and some will try to tell you what it all means. Whatever that is, the job before us has not changed, and our responsibilities to Appalachia are the same today as they were yesterday and will be tomorrow.
[ Read More ]Wednesday, October 29th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has sent the long-awaited Coal Ash Rule to the White House for final review. But until the agency's Dec. 19 deadline, we likely won't know much about how far the final rule will go to protect communities from coal ash pollution. And that's probably just how the White House wants it. [ Read More ]Friday, September 5th, 2014 | Posted by Guest Contributor | 3 Comments
Residents of the Belews Creek community of Stokes County, N.C., have been speaking out about the serious health threat from the nearby massive coal ash pit, which is the largest in the state. Artist Caroline Armijo, who has seen too many of her friends and neighbors die from cancer, is one of them. [ Read More ]Wednesday, August 20th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | 1 Comment
However dysfunctional, the North Carolina General Assembly always seems to come together in the end — often in literally the final hours of the legislative session. After a last-minute compromise, the North Carolina legislature passed the coal ash bill on Wednesday, but fell short of promises to protect communities in the wake of the Dan River spill. [ Read More ]
