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Tom Cormons
Appalachian Voices' Executive Director, Tom holds a degree in law from UCLA and has a life-long appreciation for Appalachia's mountains and culture. An avid hiker and whitewater rafter, his latest pleasure is in sharing with his kids a deep respect and appreciation of nature.
Monday, October 24th, 2016 | Posted by Tom Cormons | No Comments
From the West Coast to the Dakotas to Appalachia, our country is at an energy crossroads. We can continue building up fossil fuel infrastructure, like the massive fracked-gas pipelines being proposed, degrading our treasured landscapes and waterways, and posing health and safety risks to thousands of families. Or, we can invest in truly clean energy, create jobs, curb climate impacts and build a sustainable future. The choice is clear. [
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Sunday, August 21st, 2016 | Posted by Tom Cormons | No Comments
Our democratic responsibility should not be confined just to voting on Election Day. We have opportunities throughout the year to participate; whether it’s speaking before our town council, meeting with our congressional representatives, writing a letter-to-the-editor, attending a rally or signing an online petition, each action represents a voice or idea that would otherwise not be heard. [
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Friday, May 20th, 2016 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 1 Comment
We launched our “Energy Savings for Appalachia” program in 2013 with high hopes of making home energy-efficiency improvements more affordable for more area residents. We reached a major milestone in April when Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp. (BRE), a rural electric cooperative in western North Carolina, announced a new financing option for its members.
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Friday, March 18th, 2016 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 6 Comments
There’s more than wildflowers budding in Appalachia as spring comes to the mountains this year. We are witnessing the proliferation of efforts big and small to stabilize and revitalize local economies as the coal industry declines. And the conversations continue expanding outward, bringing together an increasingly broad cross-section of residents and stakeholders. [
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Friday, January 22nd, 2016 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 1 Comment
Appalachian Voices is beginning 2016 stronger than ever and positioned to advance a positive future for the region we all love. Standing with citizens from across Appalachia and from all walks of life, we are hard at work and have high hopes for the year ahead. [
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Friday, November 20th, 2015 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 1 Comment
The winds of change are blowing in Central Appalachia, carrying voices of people determined to see their communities thrive in a future where the coal industry no longer dominates. Executive Director Tom Cormons reflects on our achievements in 2015, including the opening of our new office in southwest Virginia where we have made tremendous progress engaging with local citizens to envision a new, sustainable economy.
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Friday, September 18th, 2015 | Posted by Tom Cormons | No Comments
Since the Dan River coal ash catastrophe of February 2014, there’s been more foot-dragging than problem-solving by Duke Energy and DENR to solve the state’s coal ash crisis. But citizens like Amy Brown are keeping the pressure on, and Appalachian Voices is right there with them. [
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2015 | Posted by Tom Cormons | No Comments
President Obama’s announcement that day of first-ever regulations to limit carbon pollution from power plants in America — which has one of the largest carbon footprints in the world — marks an unprecedented milestone. Yet, as important as it is, it’s anything but certain how the story unfolds from here. [
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 6 Comments
The Obama administration says its draft rule, released last week, to mitigate the water quality impacts of surface coal mining represents a “balanced approach to energy development.” But there’s nothing balanced about blowing the tops off ancient mountains and jeopardizing the health of thousands of Americans. [
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Friday, May 29th, 2015 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 2 Comments
Our goal with Communities at Risk is to ramp up the pressure on the White House to end mountaintop removal. As citizens have argued for years, cracking down on the continuing devastation of Appalachian mountains and streams is critical to moving the region forward. It’s incumbent on the Obama administration to help revive Appalachian communities, which have powered the nation’s economic ascendancy for generations. [
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Friday, March 20th, 2015 | Posted by Tom Cormons | No Comments
In one of the largest Clean Water Act deals in recent memory, Duke Energy agreed to pay $102 million to settle federal charges for its coal ash pollution in North Carolina. It’s the most recent example of a coal-related company facing fines for violating the law, and although that’s a step in the right direction, it can never compensate for the human cost borne for years by citizens living near coal ash ponds and mountaintop removal mines. [
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Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 | Posted by Tom Cormons | 2 Comments
President Obama recently proposed more than $1 billion in funding to restore lands and waters in coal-impacted communities and boost efforts to grow sustainable local economies. It’s a sound idea, and a long time coming, although Congress may not approve it. Meanwhile, Appalachian Voices and others continue working to move the region forward. [
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