FREE AppalachianThe February / March 2018 VOICE Thirsting forChange In a region rich with water, not everything that comes out of the tap is drinkable Can We Save the Mighty Hemlock? ALSO INSIDE: Fixing Abandoned Mine Lands • Tiny House Revolution • 1,000 Days on Bottled Water FINAL The AppalachianVOICE A note from our executive director ross Appa ia In a testament to the power that Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest corporate political c lach A publication of A Environmental News From Around the Region AppalachianVoices campaign donor, is accustomed to wielding, the state has earned a dubious distinction: “One of the top state regulatory environments for utilities in the U.S.,” according to Goldman Sachs. Whitewater Releases Approved for By the Numbers: New Public Lands NC: 589 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 • 828-262-1500 The key phrase here is for utilities. But what’s best for these companies’ bottom lines is By Hannah Gillespie nonprofit organization The Nature VA: 812 E. High St., Charlottesville, VA 22902 • 434-293-6373 not necessarily best for the rest of us, who are known in utility-speak as “ratepayers.” The Other Regional Offices: Knoxville, TN • Norton, VA Hawks Nest Dam on New River Conservancy. The property’s flat land same goes for the citizens literally standing in the way of massive corporations’ quest for In late 2017 and early 2018, these By Ashley Goodman FERC also mandated improved parks gained new territory thanks to land will enhance visitor accessibility. AppalachianVoices.org | [email protected] continued dominance over energy markets — the farmers, homeowners and small busi- Nine days of recreational white- public access to the river through trust organizations and other donors. 753: Acres to be added to DuPont State EDITOR.................................................. MOLLY MOORE nesses in the paths of the proposed fracked-gas Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. renovations such as new restrooms and Recreational Forest in North Carolina ASSOCIATE EDITOR................................... KEVIN RIDDER Monopoly utilities like Virginia’s Dominion Energy make large profits by investing billions in electricity water releases will be made annually 956: Acres to be transferred to Justin P. CONSULTING EDITOR............................. JAMIE GOODMAN changing facilities, increased parking from a private landowner donation generation, transmission and distribution projects, then charging ratepayers to recoup costs, plus a guaranteed from Hawks Nest Dam. The release Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park in DISTRIBUTION MANAGER..................... MEREDITH SHELTON and a take-out area near Gauley Bridge. through nonprofit organization The CONTRIBUTING EDITOR..................... ELIZABETH E. PAYNE rate of return generally between 10 and 13 percent — with virtually no risk. days are expected to begin in 2019 and Tennessee through a partnership with Although American Whitewater Conservation Fund. The property will be CONTRIBUTING EDITOR.............................. BRIAN SEWELL So it’s essential that state utility commissions review every expenditure the company proposes to ensure are a new requirement mandated as the nonprofit organization Tennessee EDITORIAL ASSISTANT.......................... HANNAH GILLESPIE had requested 41 days of whitewater part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Parks and Greenways Foundation. The open to the public for recreation. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT.......................... ASHLEY GOODMAN that it serves the public interest. releases, the organization believes GRAPHIC DESIGNER............................... JIMMY DAVIDSON Commission’s renewal of Brookfield land, located on the biologically rich 283: Acres to be acquired for the future But in the face of a changing energy landscape where solar power generated by homeowners and small busi- “the new license will usher in a new GRAPHIC DESIGNER................................... CARA ADEIMY Renewable Energy Group’s license for Cumberland Plateau, is home to eight Oak Hill Needleseye Boulder Park in nesses threatens its business model, and widespread public outrage over the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Dominion is and much better era on the New River DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS: Courtney Alley, Alison the dam on Dec. 22. caves and several rare species. West Virginia through a partnership with once again asking the Virginia General Assembly for special favors. It’s asking legislators for an end-run around utility Dries,” according to a post on their Auciello, Karen Austin-Clayton, Debbie Bahr, Another The 85-year-old dam powers the the West Virginia Land Trust. This park commission review, opening the gates to unnecessary projects, increased electricity rates and more big utility profits. website from January. 955: Acres to be transferred to Jones Season Honey Farm, Becky Barlow, Becca Bauer, Shawn West Virginia Manufacturing silicon will feature rock climbing, hiking trails In short, utilities need this kind of special treatment from the government to maintain their excessive profits Local resort and outfitter Adven- Gap State Park in South Carolina by Becker, Bob Belton, Roberta Bondurant, Charlie Bowles, smelting plant in Alloy, W.Va. It diverts and mountain biking. Bethann Bowman, Dale Brady, Lynn Brammer, Ben Bristoll, on the backs of ratepayers. And if Dominion succeeds in obtaining permits to build its controversial $5 billion water from 5.5 miles of the New River, tures on the Gorge plans to use the Steve Brooks, Paul Corbit Brown, Teri Brown, Christa Bru- pipeline, it plans to use the government’s power of eminent domain to condemn the property of landowners resulting in low water levels and earn- new resources to expand options for Proposed Changes to WNC Hunting Seasons sen, Bill Bunch, Sarah Caskey, Charlie Chakales, Shay Clan- along the route who refuse to sell. These extraordinary powers are dangerous if misused, and we rely on our customers, especially families. ton, Megan Ong, Ridge Cook, Dave Cooper, George Cortesi, ing the stretch the nickname “the New In December, the North Carolina Wildlife cal data, will aid the deer population and democracy to ensure that they are not. “We’re really excited about the Darlene Cunningham, Nancy Dagley, John David, Sister Da- River Dries.” Resources Commission proposed changes improve hunter satisfaction,” Mike Carraway, It’s high time for our elected representatives to finally say “no” to utility giants like Dominion when they to hunting seasons for bear and white-tailed a wildlife biologist with the state Wildlife vies, Deborah Deatherage, Clint Dye, Bill Elliott, Mike Feely, The nine days of whitewater re- releases,” says Adventures’ Marketing Frank Frey, HA Gallucio, Dave Gilliam, Scott Goebel, Bruce demand more power over our lives and future for the sake of shareholder profits. Manager Brian Campbell. “We have to deer in the Western North Carolina moun- Commission, told the Citizen-Times. leases were among numerous changes tains. The changes, which can be viewed on Following a January public comment Gould, Gary Greer, Tauna Gulley, Janet Hagy, Christine Har- For a just future, get a lot more opportunities to use the required by FERC. Other changes in- the NCWRC website, would allow bear and period, in February wildlife commissioners ris, Bill Harris, Susan Hazlewood, Sharon Helt, Dr. Laura resources at the projected flows to re- Henry-Stone, Matt Hepler, Tim Huntley, Dakota Icenhour, cluded increased minimal water flow deer hunting seasons to overlap and allow will determine whether to adopt the propos- ally figure out what the best use for that Nicholas Johnson, Mary K, Thom Kay, Denny Keeney, to improve the habitat for aquatic life longer periods of hunting with guns. als and put them into effect on Aug. 1, 2018. Tom Cormons, Executive Director Donita Kennedy, Katie Kienbaum, Mary Ann Kokenge, Deb- and a river gauge to provide real-time is. We hope it’s a more family friendly “The proposals are based on biologi- — Hannah Gillespie orah Kushner, Frances Lamberts, Susan Lewis, Loy Lilley, stream data and forecasts for local Class 3-plus experience that can open Diane Lucas, Lara Mack, Gail Marney, Brian McAllister, Kate outfitters. up a new opportunity for a shorter, McClory, Kim McClure, Rich McDonough, Tom McIntosh, half-day family trip.” Mike McKinney, Sherri McMurray, Tim Milling, Joy Miracle, environmental & cultural events Steve Moeller, Nick Mullins, Don Odell, Rob Osborne, Al- GET INVOLVED lison Keith, Lee Payne, Adam Pendlebury, Tessa Perkins, Energy Efficiency Task statewide conference. $45, $80 per couple. See more at appvoices.org/calendar Meadows Development in Abingdon Breaks Ground Find Your Way® Rick Phelps, Cleve Phillips, Stephanie Pistello, Chase Pugh, Force Volunteer Nights Culpeper, Va. Call (540) 231-6391 or visit On Jan. 3, rock blasting began at the to commercial. The lawsuit was dismissed Sister Ann Marie Quinn, Bronwyn Reece, Carol Rollman, Feb. 7, 21 and March 7, 6-8 p.m. Help the tinyurl.com/wildlife-conference 60th Annual Highland Maple Festival Meadows in Abingdon, Va., where a com- by the Virginia Supreme Court, and in Sep- Kristin Rouse, Jenny Rytel, Debbie Samuels, Mar Sartari, Appalachian Voices Energy Savings Team March 10-11, 17-18. Celebrate the tapping to Flavor! Cardboard & Duct Tape Sled Racing mercial center and public sports complex tember 2017, the court refused the group’s spread the word about decreasing energy of the maple trees with two weekends of Steve Scarborough, Gerry Scardo, Frank Schaller, Elvira Feb. 24. Build your best