The Last Mountain

In the heart of Appalachia, a battle is brewing over a mountain that could change the course of America's energy future. The Last Mountain explores the struggle between local activists and Big Coal corporations, like Massey Energy, over the controversial practice of mountaintop removal mining. The film follows the story of Coal River Mountain, where community members and environmental activists are fighting to preserve one of the last large mountain ranges in West Virginia from destruction. The film also highlights the alternative of building a wind farm on the mountain's ridges instead, which could power 70,000 homes with renewable energy forever. Through the eyes of environmental litigator and activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Goldman Prize winner Maria Gunnoe, Purpose Prize winner Bo Webb, Ed Wiley, and environmental attorney Joe Lovett we see the devastating impact that mountaintop removal mining has had on the Appalachian region's ecosystem and its people's health. We also see how the coal industry's perspective, represented by the president of West Virginia Coal Association, Bill Raney and former CEO Don Blankenship of Massey Energy is at odds with the protections of these communities and their environment. The film features interviews with experts including former dean Gus Speth from Yale School of Forestry & the Environment, Michael Shnayerson who wrote Coal River, Alan Hershkowitz Senior Scientist at Natural Resources Defense Council, Vanity Fair writer, and scientists like Ben Stout III and Devra Davis, presenting statistics on mining that show how five hundred Appalachia’s mountains have been flattened while only 2,000 miles (3,200 km) moved to the sides of valley fills, and how huge amounts of money are poured into political system from coal industries compromising democratic systems regulation these activities. With the fate of Coal River Mountain hanging in the balance this film demonstrates that this local story has national and international significance. America’s electricity depends on burning coal which makes up 30% comes from Appalachia. Burning coal is also the number one contributor to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide making it a critical environmental issue. Ultimately The Last Mountain makes an impassioned plea for sustainable energy sources like wind power, putting America on a path toward a cleaner healthier future.

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Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as The Last Mountain include Blackfish, Taxi to the Dark Side, National Gallery, Tickled, There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane, India's Daughter.

The Last Mountain was released in theaters on June 3, 2011.