Spring 2026
Annual Print Edition
The Appalachian Voice is 30 years old this year! We look forward to our next 30 years of bringing you news and stories that highlight underreported issues affecting Appalachia’s land, air, water and communities — and celebrate our region’s character, beauty and natural treasures.
In this 30th anniversary print edition, we take a closer look at what’s driving higher electricity demand in Appalachia and pay a visit to the beloved feral ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park.
We also bring stories about solar beekeeping, great trails for bird lovers, black lung clinics, an iconic Appalachian clogger, recent environmental rollbacks and the ongoing work to help the region recover and become stronger after Hurricane Helene.
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Overdrive: Fossil Fuels in Appalachia
Electricity demand is on the rise. For 15 years, the nation’s electricity usage remained fairly steady, but it started increasing around 2022. That upward trend is expected to continue, with some of it displacing other fuels, and some of it driven by new industries. How sharply will electricity demand rise? Who will pay for it? How much of that electricity will come from fossil fuels, renewables or nuclear? How will data centers influence all of the above?
These are huge questions, and the subject of intense debate. Their answers present real consequences for people across Appalachia and the Southeast — and for the future of our air, water and climate. Here, we share snapshots of the trends driving the debate, and explore how these energy issues are affecting our communities — and how people are pushing back.
ENERGY AFFORDABILITY AND METHANE GAS
Electric bills and residential gas bills are outpacing inflation, straining wallets at a time when nearly 1 in 3 Americans report struggling to pay their energy bills, according to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data. So why are residential electric bills going up?
THE HIGH COSTS OF COAL
In the past, coal was king. But for years, it’s been more expensive than solar, wind and even methane gas when it comes to generating electricity. The grid works differently across the country and region, but usually, grid operators choose to run the most affordable energy option available. So why are customers being charged a premium for coal when cheaper options are available at the same time?
DATA CENTERS & ENERGY DEMAND
Electricity demand is rising as more households and businesses switch to electric heating and transportation, along with industrial processes and manufacturing. The biggest wildcard? Large-scale data centers. There are wide-ranging estimates of how much power the facilities will demand.
The Feral Ponies of Grayson Highlands
No matter how many times you visit, Grayson Highlands State Park is always enchanting. Famous for its mountain balds — high-elevation, rolling peaks covered in shrubs and grass — the park also offers stunning alpine views, scenic overlooks, historic cabins, dazzling waterfalls and miles of hiking trails from easy to challenging and lesser-traveled to a popular section of the Appalachian Trail.
But for people who visit the park regularly, the truth is no secret: The real magic of the park is the ponies.
Other Top Stories From Spring 2026
Coalition Stopped Mining on the Edge of the Monongahela National Forest — for Now
A coalition banded together to stop a coal company from using a haul road through the Monongahela National Forest to transport coal to a railroad facility about 20 miles away in Rupert, West Virginia.
On the Front Lines of Appalachia’s Surge in Black Lung Disease
Health care for coal miners remains as important now as it was back then, given the black lung disease crisis unfolding in coalfields across the country, particularly in Central Appalachia.
Solar Beekeeping Expands Regionally
Pairing solar energy with beekeeping helps address the need for clean energy and the rapid loss of pollinator habitat, while boosting economic opportunities for local beekeepers and landowners.
Building Community Resilience Hubs in Appalachia
Many community resilience hub projects are underway around the region. Here are just a few in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
‘The Speed of These Processes is Not Survivable’
A year and a half after Hurricane Helene, many survivors are still struggling to secure stable housing because of delayed federal funding, financial challenges and bureaucratic red tape.
Clogging Extraordinaire: Arthur Grimes Keeps on Dancing
Clogger Arthur Grimes has danced his own singular path all the way from his family home in the town’s traditionally African-American Junaluska neighborhood to the most hallowed stages alongside roots music royalty.
Rebuilding Roads and Rethinking Rivers
After Helene, communities must grapple with how to balance repairing infrastructure, preserving and repairing the structure of the Pigeon and Rocky Broad rivers, and protecting aquatic life.
Creating New Appalachian Monuments
Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia is a three-year project that is seeking to expand “the idea of what a monument can be.” It features nine monuments that explore different forms and a variety of the region’s stories. The monuments take a variety of forms: traditional statues, a children’s book, an album and a music festival, a quilt and more.
Coal Labor History Sets Stage for Community
Residents and local leaders in Pound, Virginia, have been working hard to bring new life to the town’s historic downtown. Last year, Pound received funding from Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia to create a labor-oriented monument downtown.
Spring 2026 - Columns
Hiking the Highlands
On the Trail of Songbirds in Appalachia
From dense forests to fields to high elevations, Appalachia offers many opportunities to see many beautiful birds on hikes throughout the region.
Naturalist’s Notebook
Home on the Range … in Appalachia?
In Letcher County, Kentucky, the Appalachian Rekindling Project, an Indigenous, women-led organization, is seeking to reintroduce bison to the region on 63 acres of a reclaimed mountaintop removal coal mine.
This Green House
Ready for the Next Big Storm? A Practical Guide to Household Preparedness
Follow these simple tips to make your home safer and more resilient in the face of natural disasters or emergencies.
Energy Report
Across Appalachia