We know that young Kentuckians care deeply about our mountains and mountain communities. This year, we want to make sure their voices are heard loud and clear at Kentuckians For The Commonwealth’s I Love Mountains Day at the state capitol.
Kentucky spends at least $1.41 billion per year on incentive programs, according to the most recent data available. That's about 15% of the state's annual budget. According to their data, the oil, gas and coal industries are the top recipients of state and local tax breaks.
This article reviews a recent court settlement in which Patriot Coal agreed to phase out large scale surface mining operations in West Virginia and decommission its enormous draglines so they cannot be used in other locations in Central Appalachia.
A new report out November 28 from the Government Accountability Office says coal will remain a key fuel source into the future, but its share of generation is going to continue declining. The report adds to the fairly common notion that less coal will be burned for domestic electricity production
The federal Minew SAfety and Health Administration has given four mines – including Pike Floyd Mining Inc.’s No. 3 Mine in Pike County – a warning that if they don’t make strides in health and safety, they could be put on a “pattern of violations” status.
Matt Wasson makes a powerful case for organizing around issues of climate, clean energy, and an economic transition in the mountain counties of Central Appalachia. He argues, "We also need a ground game in the remote corners of swing states where national elections are won and lost, where campaign narratives are targeted and where climate activists rarely tread."
