FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2013 Local Residents Call Attention to Destructive Mining Practices Sustainable Appalachian Stakeholders Meeting Held Outside Alpha Shareholders Meeting Abingdon, Va. – A group of about 50 local residents and activists held an “Appalachian Stakeholders” rally today outside the Alpha Natural Resources annual shareholders meeting, to call attention to the harmful [...]

For Immediate release: May 7th, 2013 Contacts: Sam Broach, President, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards (SAMS) 276-523-1702, mountainaid@verizon.net Matt Hepler, SAMS, Citizens Enforcement and Water Monitoring Organizer 540-871-1564, mhepler24@gmail.com Residents of Appalachia Applaud DMME Denial of Ison Rock Ridge Surface Mine Community Groups Cheer Rejection of Dangerous Surface Mine The town and coal camps of Appalachia [...]

For Immediate Release May 3, 2013 Contact: Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org Phillip Ellis, 202-320-2044, phillip.ellis@sierraclub.org Dominion CEO Faces Growing Backlash Over Risks of Extreme Energy at Shareholder Meeting Through resolutions and re-imaginings of classic paintings, Virginians urge Dominion to stop leading the way toward an unrecognizable future of climate disruption and marred landscapes RICHMOND—Dominion Resources [...]

Virginia taxpayers have been boosting profits for the coal industry with tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks every year. That’s not big news – but what’s astounding is that, due to the structure of the subsidies, the Commonwealth is not only foregoing revenue, it is actually paying cash to the industry. According to [...]

New report suggests shifting money to diversify coalfield economies Contact: Rory McIlmoil, Downstream Strategies, 304-445-7200, mcilmoil@downstreamstrategies.com Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Glen Besa, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, 804-225-9113 x 104, glen.besa@sierraclub.org Resources Full Report Executive Summary Photos Richmond, VA – The coal industry and coal-related activities cost Virginia $22 million more than [...]

On December 1st, the U.S. Department of Interior announced plans to sell leases for the development of wind energy 27 miles off of Virginia’s shores and another lease block off of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. If constructed, these would be the first offshore wind generation facilities in the United States. While Virginia is far from [...]

Appalachian Voices * Sierra Club Virginia Chesapeake Climate Action Network Big Coal, Utilities Dominate Virginia Energy Policy, Report Says Richmond − In advance of the Governor’s Energy Conference, clean energy groups released a white paper highlighting the influence that coal companies and utilities wield over Virginia energy policy (to download the report, Dirty Money, Dirty [...]

The annual Weekend in Wise County event, hosted by the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition and the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, is more than an opportunity for people to witness mountaintop removal coal mining and what it leaves behind for the people of Appalachia. It is an opportunity to meet an amazing community trying to [...]

The Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition attended the Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s Energy Conference this October. Looking at the agenda, we were prepared for what would surely be a biased conference. But we didn’t know it would be this bad. At every stage of the conference, the coal companies and electric utilities that survive on [...]

Wise Energy for Virginia For Immediate Release – August 9, 2012 ODEC Puts Plans for Coal Plant On Ice Clean energy groups rejoice but vow to stay vigilant Contact: Mike McCoy, Appalachian Voices (434) 293-6373 Beth Kemler, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (804) 335-0915 Glen Besa, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter (804) 387-6001 Cale Jaffe, Southern Environmental [...]

PRESS RELEASE JULY 11, 2012 Beth Kemler, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org, 804-335-0915 Jamie Nolan, jamie@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-396-2022 Advocates Expose Dirty Truth Behind Dominion’s New “Clean Coal” Power Plant Environmental coalition invites legislators to tour the real effects of coal power in Virginia RICHMOND — In response to news that Dominion Virginia Power recently hosted several Virginia lawmakers in a [...]

MEDIA RELEASE                         www.WiseEnergyForVirginia.org   June 1, 2012 Appalachian Voices                                                Tom Cormons                        (434) 981-6506 Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter                                    Glen Besa                         (804) 225-9113 Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards            Sam Broach                     (276) 523-1702   Long-term energy trends show need to diversify Southwest Virginia economy Coal industry rally distracts from [...]

The EPA recently announced that a public hearing for the recently released rule on Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants will be held on May 24th in Washington D.C.  We must take advantage of this enormous opportunity to stand up for clean energy, public health and the environment! Sign up today! What: EPA public [...]

On May 8th, Dominion will be seeking the State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) approval of their 15-year plan in a hearing in Richmond. Dominion’s plan keeps Virginia stuck in its dirty-fuel past, putting the health of Virginia’s families and future generations at risk, all the while ignoring the clean energy solutions available to us. We’ve collected [...]