Hidden Costs

The costs of energy do not end with our monthly, energy bills. Dirty energy is subsidized by the government which costs us more in taxes.

Its the hidden costs however, that are really hurting us, our environment and our little one's future. From climate change to higher asthma rates, our use of coal and other fossil fuels are dramatically affecting our environment. 

Climate change is most often used as the reason to reduce our energy impact. This global issue could be developed society's ultimate undoing, but there are also millions of hidden costs affecting us here in Appalachia right now.

Toxic Spills

December 22, 2008   The largest toxic spill the world has ever seen recently took place in our neighboring state of Tennessee.  5.5 million gallons of the coal by-product, liquid fly ash broke free from its earthen dam into the Emory river which feeds the mighty Tennessee river. Millions of pounds of arsenic, lead, chromium, thallium and other toxic chemicals have made thier way into one of our country's great rivers which also happens to account for millions of people's drinking water. Never heard of the world's most recent environmental tragedy? You are not alone. Visit www.appalachianvoices.org for a full accout of the TVA Coal Ash Disaster.                                                  

It sure is easy to blame TVA for this, but they are supplying our needs. Much of the blame belongs to anyone that pays an electric bill. Could the same thing happen to the French Broad River? The lower one's electric bill, the less liquid fly ash has to be created and stored.

MountainTop Removal

August 27, 2007  "We have to find more environmentally sound ways of mining coal, than simply blowing the tops off mountains." - Barack Obama.

North Carolina is the largest consumer of Mountain Top Removal mined coal after Georgia. If you are not fully aware of all the damage this causes our streams, wetlands, forests and mountains; a picture is worth a thousand words. For more information on mountain top removal, visit  www.ohvec.org/galleries/mountaintop_removal/007/       www.iLoveMountains.org

 Attention! Residents of North Carolina who pay an electric bill: This is what you are doing to the mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

 Stream and Forest Acidification from Acid Precipitation

Because of the many variables involved, it is hard to scientifically prove that our weakening forests and streams are a direct result of our fossil fuel use. However, emerging scientific data suggests that our pristine mountains and ridgetops are being acidified due to the Southeast's large number of coal-fired power plants.  Ridge and Mountaintops are largely removed from most of our pollution sources. Air pollution and rain, however, are concentrated at these higher elevations where measurements are high in ozone and other pollutants associated with coal fired power plants.  Many researchers feel that this is the main suspect behind weakening stream quality and plant life in our Appalachian mountains. 

Lowering energy costs is among the most fiscally and socially responsible things a person can do.