Appalachian communities are exploring ways to attract new businesses, pull families out of poverty and strengthen skilled workforces. A primary focus is to redevelop old, unused coal sites.
Blog Archives
19 old coal sites identified for innovative development projects
TAGS: abandoned mine lands aml Coal economic development Economic diversification just transition new economy reclaim reclamation
Appalachian Voices receives grant for solar in Southwest Virginia
Appalachian Voices has received a federal grant to help further the mission of the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia to develop the region as a hub for the solar industry, creating jobs and community wealth.
TAGS: Appalachian Regional Commission arc economic development just transition power grant Solar solar workgroup southwest virginia
Southwest Va. groups join in with world’s largest grassroots solar event
CONTACTS: Austin Counts, Appalachian Voices, 276-679-1691, austin@appvoices.org Wise County, Va. – The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia joins the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and hundreds of solar installers and grassroots organizations throughout America to showcase thousands of solar-powered…
TAGS: clean energy economic development just transition Renewable Energy Solar Solar Energy southwest virginia
Community discussion to focus on ecotourism in Southwest Virginia
CONTACTS: Tyler Hughes New Economy Program Manager, Appalachian Voices 276-207-8686, tyler@appvoices.org The New Economy Network of Southwest Virginia and Appalachian Voices are hosting a community discussion on ecotourism in Pennington Gap on Tuesday, August 27. The meeting is free and…
TAGS: economic development Economic diversification Economic Transition Ecotourism just transition Solar southwest virginia tourism
Advocates for Appalachia in D.C. this week
Meet Laura Miller, Jacob Hannah and Darrell Coker — three Appalachians who traveled to D.C. this week to stand up for their communities and advocate for passage of the RECLAIM Act.
RECLAIM Act back in Congress
The bill to expedite spending of $1 billion in coal-impacted communities to repurpose old mine sites for new economic projects has been reintroduced into Congress with bipartisan support.
TAGS: Acid Mine Drainage ACLC Appalachian Citizens Law Center Coal mining Congress economic development Economic Transition just transition Kentucky Mountaintop Removal RECLAIM Act
Takeaways from the TVA quarterly meeting
Increased public participation but continued gaps in transparency marked TVA’s recent quarterly meeting, which included a vote to close two of the utility’s coal plants.
A roadmap to boosting solar in Southwest Virginia
Last week, the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia released an outline for bringing a just, sustainable energy economy to the coalfield region.
Going solar in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia
CONTACT: Adam Wells, Appalachian Voices, New Economy Program Manager, 276-679-1691, adam@appvoices.org Matt Wasson, Appalachian Voices, Director of Programs, 828-262-1500, matt@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Director of Communications, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org Wise County, Va. — A group of local leaders from far Southwest Virginia…
TAGS: alternative energy economic development just transition new economy Solar solar workgroup southwest virginia Virginia
Appalachians Look to Branch Out from Coal-Based Economy
Contact: Adam Wells, Appalachian Voices, (276) 679-1691, adam@appvoices.org Gabby Gillespie, The Alliance for Appalachia, (276) 220-5048, gabby.gillespie@sierraclub.org Eric Dixon, Appalachian Citizens Law Center, (865) 202-8688, eric@appalachianlawcenter.org Two dozen local government entities in the heart of Central Appalachia’s coalfields have passed…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands aml economic development Economic diversification jobs just transition Power Power-Plus transition
