Austin Counts

Austin is a native of Southwest Virginia, having been raised in Wise and Dickenson County, and is the proud grandson of two coal miners. He works to advance the goals and ambitions of the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia and other energy affordability efforts in the region.

Austin joined Appalachian Voices following two years with the Virginia Department of Energy and nearly six years on the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia Steering Committee.

With a sense of pride in Southwest Virginia’s history and resilience, he strives to help inform its residents and leaders of the opportunities of the nation’s changing energy economy.