The Appalachian Voice Archives | Page 5 of 296

TVA Pursues Multiple Methane Gas Power Plants and Pipelines

By Jen Lawhorne | July 23, 2025 |

Attendees outside the first open house that TVA held in Cheatham County in June 2023. Nearly 400 people showed up. Photo by Angie Mummaw

The Tennessee Valley Authority is planning the biggest methane gas buildout of any utility this decade — nine new plants since 2020.

Citizen Air Monitoring Network Grows Stronger in West Virginia’s ‘Chemical Valley’

By Contributing Writers | July 23, 2025 |

Tanks from Institute’s Dow Chemical plant peek through the trees behind West Virginia State University’s campus. Photo by Joe Severino

Citizen air monitoring network efforts are giving Appalachians more information about the air they breathe in West Virginia’s “Chemical Valley.”

‘Next Time, We’ll Be Ready:’ Community Resilience Hubs Take Root in Western North Carolina

By Abby Hassler | July 9, 2025 |

Piney Hill Baptist Church, located northeast of Burnsville, N.C., served as a vital hub for this isolated community cut off by the river along U.S. Route 19E. Due to logistical difficulties sourcing fuel for gasoline generators, Footprint Project helped the hub install solar panels to power its Starlink. Additionally, the nonprofit provided a Tesla Micro Power Unit that powered a well pump on an individual's property. That individual then became the drinking water source for their neighbors. Photo courtesy of Footprint Project

After Hurricane Helene, some organizations are hoping to establish long-term community resilience hubs in North Carolina. In an ideal scenario, these hubs would be equipped with renewable infrastructure, such as solar microgrids, to maintain reliable access to electricity in the event of grid outages.

Rural Virginia Community Defeats Massive Gas Plant and Data Center Proposal

By Jen Lawhorne | July 9, 2025 |

Mill Creek Community Church in Chatham displays on its lawn a banner opposing Balico's proposal. Photo by Jessica Sims

Residents of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, came together to help defeat a proposal from Balico, LLC to develop 2,200 acres of rural land for a massive gas power plant and huge data center complex of 84 buildings.

On the Road to Recovery: Rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail

By Abby Hassler | July 1, 2025 |

A photo of the Green Cove Station historical sign beside the Virginia Creeper Trail, with trees covered in orange autumn leaves in the background.

Hurricane Helene devastated part of the popular Virginia Creeper Trail. Despite promising recent updates, the timeline for major restoration and eventual completion for portions of the picturesque rail-to-trail path remains uncertain, requiring small businesses that rely on visitors to pivot or risk closure.

Research On Larry Gibson Dedicated To The West Virginia & Regional History Center

By Contributing Writers | June 27, 2025 |

Larry Gibson and others at a protest of the Massey coal prep plant adjacent to Marsh Fork Elementary School in Sundial, West Virginia, during summer 2005. Photo by Allen Johnson.

Marybeth Lorbiecki compiled 1,283 pages of research to produce a biography on Larry Gibson that was officially transferred in March to the West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University. Her research chronicles Gibson’s rise from an unknown working-class man into the international star he’d become for environmental activists.

Virginia Tech’s Solar Projects Power Campus Toward Carbon Neutrality Goal

By Contributing Writers | May 27, 2025 |

An aerial view of the solar arrays on the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Photo by Noah Alderman for Virginia Tech.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Virginia Tech has taken a significant step toward reducing its carbon footprint by completing four 1.2-megawatt solar arrays on building rooftops across its Blacksburg campus in fall 2024.

Economic First Responders: CDFIs, The Unsung Heroes of Appalachian Financial Services

By Abby Hassler | May 22, 2025 |

Sunset framing restaurant sign that reads "Julie's Place."

CDFIs serve as ‘economic first responders’ in Appalachia. A drastic reduction in one of their funding sources could significantly alter or slow down their work providing capital to small business owners, mentorship to entrepreneurs, protections from predatory lending and flexible, fast capital in times of natural disaster.

Swipe to Support: How Two College Students Are Tackling Hunger in Appalachia

By Contributing Writers | May 21, 2025 |

In October 2024, alongside a few friends, Osmani founded a grassroots organization, Swipe to Support, designed to redistribute their unused swipes to fight food insecurity in Appalachia.

East Tennessee Nonprofit Welcomes First-Time Homebuyers Into Affordable, Energy-Efficient Home

By Abby Hassler | May 15, 2025 |

Homeowners Shawn O'Brien and Nicole Yacura cut the ribbon for their net-zero solar home with representatives from SEEED, ORNL and other partners. Photo by Abby Hassler.

Shawn O’Brien and Nicole Yacura recently moved into Candora House, a net-positive solar home built by East Tennessee nonprofit, SEEED.

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