PUBLISHER: Relocating Baldwin County 2026/27 issue By: Kristin Koppen | Photos by Brennan Robideaux We are thrilled to share that our mission is featured in the latest issue of Relocating Baldwin County! Written by our very own Kristin Koppen, the article spotlights Sallie's Ashes, the 40-minute documentary capturing our movement's origin. When late-stage cancer returned, our dear friend Sallie Smith dedicated her final months to protecting Mobile Bay. Alongside Diane Thomas

For immediate release: May 18, 2026 Mobile Baykeeper wins Plant Barry coal ash lawsuit appeal Federal Appeals Court rejects dismissal, points to ongoing Mobile River pollution MOBILE, Ala. – Today the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals revived a lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of Mobile Baykeeper against Alabama Power’s plan to permanently leave more than 21 million tons of toxic coal ash in unlined pits on the bank of the Mobile River. The U.S. Di

May 18, 2026 The U.S. Eleventh Court of Appeals ruled on Monday, May 18, 2026, against a lower court ruling that Baykeeper does, indeed, have the standing to sue the state's largest utility. Read the official court filing >>> Read the NBC15 news story about the lawsuit being reinstated >>>

Washington, D.C. - Alabama-based documentary short Sallie’s Ashes has received one of the top four juried awards at the 2026 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF), earning the prestigious Eric Moe Award for Best Short on Sustainability. The Eric Moe Award is presented annually to a film that most powerfully advances sustainability solutions and reflects the balance between human needs and the natural world. As one of only four major awards presented by t

By Lee Hedgepeth. December 29, 2025 Photo Credit: Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News This recent article is highly recommended by the Coal Ash Action Group to fully understand the coal ash issue in Alabama. It presents a comprehensive overview which we hope you will read.  This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News , a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here . ARTICLE: How Alaba

December 17, 2025 BY GABRIELLA CHAVEZ Report for America Corps Member GCM Staff Reporter gabriella@gulfcoastmedia.com In December 2024, Alabama Power announced a partnership with Eco Material Technologies to begin recycling coal ash from Plant Barry into construction materials as early as 2026. While the utility expects to process over 700,000 tons of ash annually, the move has met with skepticism from environmental advocates and community groups. Because the site contains mo

PUBLISHER: Alabama Media Group (al.com) November 27, 2025 By: Margaret Kates | mkates@al.com In an article published by Alabama Media Group, reporter Margaret Kates highlights “Sallie’s Ashes,” an acclaimed 40-minute documentary following three Baldwin County retirees—Sarah “Sallie” Smith, Diane Thomas, and Savan Wilson—who founded the grassroots Coal Ash Action Group. Dubbed the "Coal Ash Grannies," the trio launched a non-political, fact-driven campaign to demand the remova

Retirement Systems of Alabama Director, David Bronner, released an urgent statement calling on the support of leaders to remove the coal ash from Plant Barry. Check out Lagniappe's article all about it: RSA head urges coal ash solution 'NOW', linked at the button below.

PUBLISHER: Gulf Coast Media. Thursday, October 9, 2025 BY GABRIELLA CHAVEZ
 Report for America Corps Member 
GCM Staff Journalist The Coal Ash Action Group; a grassroots movement born from Sallie Smith’s determination to protect the waters that shaped part of their lives.

The Coal Ash Action Group is happy to announce the incredible outpouring of support for the film, "Sallie's Ashes" at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado in August. Sallie Smith, now deceased, led a group of fellow Alabama grandmothers to fight for the removal of a toxic coal ash pond that threatens the waters of Mobile Bay. A film crew followed us. the Coal Ash Action Group volunteers, around in 2023-2024 as we worked to make people aware of the Coal Ash pond next to the

For comprehensive understanding of coal ash issues at Plant Barry read Mobile Baykeeper's 2018 POLLUTION REPORT: "Coal Ash at Alabama...

Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) is suing Alabama Power on behalf of Coosa Riverkeeper. The suit alleges that the coal ash pond,...

The EPA is taking new steps to streamline its coal ash program, including extending compliance deadlines and working with states to manage their own regulations. This move aims to provide the power industry with more time and flexibility in meeting environmental requirements.

By Dennis Pillion (AL.com) A Big Thanks to The Nature Conservancy of Alabama, Patagonia, and an undisclosed donor who made a huge...

2025 study at the University of Alabama finds contamination of surface water and river sediment outside of the coal ash pond at Plant...

Published October 2024 by: Jared Sullivan Available on Amazon and other bookstores. A Valley So Low is a nonfiction book by Jared...

Coal Ash Action Group IMPORTANT UPDATE May 23, 2024 BIG WIN: EPA denies dangerous coal ash plan. Southern Environmental Law Center Update...

By SCOTT JOHNSON Originally published in Lagniappe. A new cement recycling initiative at Alabama Power’s Plant Barry in Mobile County...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR by Diane Thomas Republished with permission from and originally published in Lagniappe The 597-acre Plant Barry...

Thanks to all who wrote us about this award from Mobile Bay Magazine. You can read their whole article and see other recipients at this...