The Last Mountain is scarier than any Saw, Alien or Friday the 13th film ever made. It's a documentary about mountaintop coal removal in West Virginia, starring a group of locals whose environment is slowly turning into toxic sludge and an energy company whose methods are so predatory, they make Wall Street bankers look like acolytes of Mother Teresa. "If someone tried to blow up a mountain in Utah or Colorado, they'd be put in jail. Why is that allowed in West Virginia?" asks environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who figures prominently in the film. "It's because the public does ... Read More
Solar Farming Spreads to Appalachia
October 13, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Nearly 40 years ago, it was a strip mine used by the Central Ohio Coal Company. Now, 500 acres of land adjacent to The Wilds conservation park is set to house a $250 million, 49.9-megawatt solar array. "We recognized the future when we established our state's aggressive renewable portfolio standard, invested in the energy industry and eliminated taxes for new energy facilities to create jobs and grow Ohio's advanced energy industry," said Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, nodding to an executive order he signed in September. "Today," he announced on Oct. 5, "the future has recognized ... Read More
Can Mining Provide a Renewable Energy Future?
August 22, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
It's difficult to look out over miles of waste rock and tailings from a century of copper mining in the American Southwest and see anything but environmental destruction. But a growing number of mining companies and renewable energy developers are beginning to use these vast plains of disturbed dirt as the ideal spots for large-scale solar and wind power projects. Mine sites in the region attract developers such as Tessera Solar for several reasons, said communications manager Janette Coates. Existing transmission lines, available water and roads capable of supporting wide, heavy loads ... Read More
