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Across the country — from the halls of Congress to state capitols to Coal River Mountain — people are coming together to stop mountaintop removal coal mining and to work towards a clean energy future for America.
Some stories we wanted you to know about:
- Earlier this month, the New York Times published a roundup of news reports of anti-coal activists taking action from Virginia to Montana, and how Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has called for a near-moratorium on new coal-fired power plants in her state. Read more….
- Michigan isn’t the only state considering moratoriums on new coal-fired plants. Earlier this month, Georgia legislators introduced the Appalachian Mountain Preservation Act, joining North Carolina in proposing a ban on the use of coal mined by mountaintop removal in Appalachia, as well as a moratorium on new coal-fired plants. South Carolina — where Gov. Mark Sanford recently announced his opposition to a new coal plant, may soon follow with a similar bill. Read more…
- In West Virginia, residents took a stand at Coal River Mountain earlier this month to protest Massey Energy’s plans for a mountaintop removal coal mining operation. Residents are advocating for a wind farm at Coal River Mountain to provide clean, renewable energy and long-term jobs. Learn more about the protests and tell West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin to block the mountaintop removal operation….
- And in Congress, Representatives Frank Pallone and Dave Reichert have released their “Dear Colleague” letter, inviting their fellow congresspersons to join them in becoming original co-sponsors of the Clean Water Protection Act. Already, 63 co-sponsors have signed on in the new Congress. Read the letter (PDF)….
You can become part of the story by joining us for 4th Annual End Mountaintop Removal Week in Washington, taking place the March 14th-19th.
By joining us in Washington, you’ll get to meet and work with other passionate Appalachian activists from around the country; develop and hone your outreach skills in our outreach workshops; and meet face to face with legislators to help inspire and educate them to pass legislation to end mountaintop removal coal mining in 2009.