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

BLOGGER INDEX

From farm to fork to mountain trails: summer edition of The Appalachian Voice

Monday, June 23rd, 2014 | Posted by Kimber Ray | No Comments

JuneJuly2014_coversmall-302-350 Dive into summer with the June/July issue of The Appalachian Voice, featuring ecotourism attractions in southwest Virginia, destination farmers markets and environmental news coverage. Learn about genetically modified organisms and what some common labels really mean about your food. Investigate the issues surrounding coal, coal ash and carbon dioxide. This latest mountain news reporting encourages you to get out and explore your community. [ Read More ]


The Voice: Toxic Warnings, Trilliums and More

Friday, April 18th, 2014 | Posted by Kimber Ray | No Comments

AprilMay2014_cover_small2This latest issue of The Appalachian Voice explores some of the pressing economic and environmental hardships faced by the region today. Read about the ongoing water crises in West Virginia and along the Dan River of North Carolina and Virginia, the continued challenges in the War on Poverty, and the people who are dedicated to achieving solutions. [ Read More ]


NCDENR Defends NCDENR, Not the Environment

Monday, February 24th, 2014 | Posted by Kimber Ray | 1 Comment

IMG_6079 North Carolina environmental officials held a press briefing last week to discuss the massive Feb. 2 Dan River coal ash spill. After offering misleading statements in defense of the agency, officials abruptly walked out amid unanswered questions on their continued delays in holding polluters fully accountable. [ Read More ]


50th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act of 1963

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 | Posted by Kimber Ray | No Comments

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Although the Clean Air Act was first enacted Dec. 17, 1963, it wasn't until the 1970 Clean Air Act amendments that the law was substantial enough to make a memorable mark on history. Perhaps embarrassed by memories of the more clumsy and inept act of 1963, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency itself gave the 50th anniversary the cold shoulder — instead celebrating the of the amendments Dec. 31, 2010.

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Burning Wood: The Good, the Bad and the Misunderstood

Friday, December 13th, 2013 | Posted by Kimber Ray | No Comments

The coal and biomass powered Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center began operations in 2012, joining the growing number of biomass facilities in the Southeast. Photo credit: United States Geological Survey

The coal and biomass powered Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center began operations in 2012, joining the growing number of biomass facilities in the Southeast. Photo credit: United States Geological Survey

As the push continues to seek alternative and renewable energy resources, utility companies are increasingly turning to an energy source from days gone by: wood.

The growth of the biomass-for-energy industry has been particularly vigorous in the Southeast, with exports of wood pellets rising by 70 percent in just the past year. While this industry growth can be a regional economic boon, a new study commissioned by the Southern Environmental Law Center and the National Wildlife Federation cautions that unchecked expansion of biomass facilities will threaten wildlife and water quality across the Southeast.

For Appalachia — already impacted by mountaintop removal coal mining — the consequences caused by the reckless pursuit of energy resources are a familiar reality. But while the negative impacts of coal mining are clear — from levelled mountains to contaminated water — the impacts of biomass harvesting are far less clear-cut. Overharvesting biomass can destroy wildlife habitats, contribute to water pollution and expose nearby communities to increased flood risk. But contrary to what many might suspect, the report indicates that managing forests as a source of biomass can have a host of merits when done sustainably, including protecting forests and wildlife as well as creating stable jobs and revenue.
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