RICHMOND, Virginia, March 10 (TNSGra) -- The James River Association issued the following news release: The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation has awarded the Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation, Inc. with a grant of $27,000 towards the James River Environmental Education Program to be used during the 2021-2022 school year for programs in the Lynchburg City Schools (LCS), as COVID-19 health mitigation protocols allow. This is the first payment of a three-year commitment for a tota  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- The Appalachian Regional Commission issued the following news release on March 9, 2021: Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced Envision Appalachia: Community Conversations for ARC's Strategic Plan, a virtual series of public input sessions to identify critical opportunities and challenges facing Appalachia's economic future. Using insights gathered from these public sessions, coupled with guidance from regional, state, and local partners, ARC will develop a stra  more

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, March 11 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on March 10, 2021: Groups in Tennessee and across the country delivered more than 21,500 petition signatures to leaders in Washington DC today, calling on President Biden to issue an Executive Order compelling the Tennessee Valley Authority to stop the inhumane practice of disconnecting families who are unable to pay their electric bills during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike some neighboring states, Tennessee  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on March 10, 2021: As coal-impacted communities grapple with economic decline and public health risks made significantly worse by the Covid-19 crisis, Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) introduced two bills in the House today to spur immediate job creation and help ensure that coal country is a part of the economic recovery. The bills -- Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveragin  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 9 -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release on March 8, 2021: Despite last week's passage of legislation allocating nearly $500 million for emergency rent and utility assistance, hundreds of thousands of struggling families in North Carolina will remain at risk of eviction and disconnection from water and energy service if further action is not taken before the end of the month, advocates said today in separate letters to Gov. Roy Cooper and the NC U  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 9 -- The North Carolina Justice Center issued the following news on March 8, 2021: Despite last week's passage of legislation allocating nearly $500 million for emergency rent and utility assistance, hundreds of thousands of struggling families in North Carolina will remain at risk of eviction and disconnection from water and energy service if further action is not taken before the end of the month, advocates said today in separate letters to Gov. Roy Cooper and t  more

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, March 11 -- Friends of the Earth issued the following news release on March 10, 2021: Groups in Tennessee and across the country delivered more than 21,500 petition signatures to leaders in Washington DC, calling on President Biden to issue an Executive Order compelling the Tennessee Valley Authority to stop the inhumane practice of disconnecting families who are unable to pay their electric bills du during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike some neighboring states, Tennessee   more

CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 9 -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release on March 8, 2021: A 303-mile pipeline that would move natural gas from the Appalachian Basin to markets in the eastern and southern U.S. is in financial jeopardy because of reduced demand projections and legal challenges, according to a report released today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The Mountain Valley Pipeline, cutting across the   more

FRANKFORT, Kentucky, March 11 -- Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, issued the following news: Gov. Andy Beshear visited Hazard to view storm damage and update Kentuckians on the state's response to recent ice storms and record flooding. "After the recent, devastating storms, we've traveled the commonwealth to see the destruction firsthand and to let our neighbors know that we are here for you and are working to provide relief," said Gov. Beshear. "We are applying for two federal disaster declarat  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, March 10 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory issued the following news: A NETL-supported project by Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) has demonstrated its capabilities to produce rare earth element (REE) concentrates using available coal ash resources from Appalachia, providing a potential domestic source of these critical minerals and a means of local environmental remediation. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NETL have priorit  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08) reintroduced two pieces of legislation to reauthorize and accelerate federal funding to reclaim abandoned mine lands in Northeastern Pennsylvania and across America. In a press conference with U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15) and Appalachian Region advocates, Rep. Cartwright said these two bills would help create good jobs, pave the way for new economi  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-North Carolina, issued the following news release: Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) introduced H.R. 1759, legislation to reauthorize the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. This bill extends the authorization period of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area through September 30, 2036. "The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area was created to protect and preserve the Appalachian culture that is cherished around the world," said Congressman McHenry  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. David Trone, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman David Trone and Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (all D-Md.) announced $50,000 in federal funding for Archway Station, Inc.'s Allegany Oxford House, which will serve as a safe housing option for women recovering from substance use disorder and their children. The funding will be used to renovate the Allegany Oxford House in Cumberland into apartment-style residences for those receiv  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on March 8, 2021: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have awarded a $281,603 grant to Belmont College through its Advanced Welding Workforce Initiative (AWWI). Belmont College will work in partnership with Eastern Gateway Community College and Ohio Mid-East Career and Technolo  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release on March 12, 2021: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable discussion with Ohioans as he works to help Ohio families recover financially from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last weekend, Brown helped pass the COVID-19 American Rescue Plan, which included expanded tax credits that will put more money in the pockets of working Ohioans and $1,400 stimulus checks that will help Ohioan  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release on March 12, 2021: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, penned an op-ed for The State Journal highlighting the importance of natural gas as a low-carbon energy source and the headwinds the natural gas industry will be facing in the Biden adminis  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on March 9, 2021: U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $50,000 in federal funding for Archway Station, Inc.'s Allegany Oxford House, which will serve as a safe housing option for women recovering from substance use disorder and their children. The funding will be used to renovate the Allegany Oxford House in Cumberland into apartment-style   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release on March 9, 2021: U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $50,000 in federal funding for Archway Station, Inc.'s Allegany Oxford House, which will serve as a safe housing option for women recovering from substance use disorder and their children. The funding will be used to renovate the Allegany Oxford House in Cumberland into apartment-style resid  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, March 11 -- The Sierra Club Foundation issued the following statement on March 10, 2021: * * * Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA) introduced a comprehensive mine reclamation and economic diversification package today, which will provide an immediate economic boost to historic coal producing regions by employing thousands of people in mine reclamation jobs. Included in the package is the vitally important RECLAIM Act, a reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Land (AML)  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 11 -- Trout Unlimited issued the following news release: Trout Unlimited enthusiastically supports bipartisan legislation that will reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Trust Fund and will accelerate its investments in former coal communities across the country. TU is urging members and supporters to contact their Congressional representatives to ask for their support for three legislative proposals that will address hazardous abandoned mine sites. Take actio  more

FOREST KNOLLS, California, March 13 -- The Turtle Island Restoration Network issued the following news release: Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) recently signed a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, asking the Service to restore critical bird protections that would be eliminated by a proposed regulation to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). TIRN believes the United States, through the Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have a responsibility to b  more