Large, out-of-state companies often hold huge tracts of land in Southwest Virginia and across the region for its perceived coal or timber potential — making it difficult for nearby communities to use the land themselves.
Blog Archives
Southwest Virginia schools and local governments call for fair solar policies
Several public entities in the region are urging Appalachian Power Company to loosen their restrictive solar policies. On the sunnier side, Appalachian Voices and Iron Works Cycling secured a $25,000 grant for a solar array on the Big Stone Gap, Va., bicycle shop.
New Economy Network looking to 2021 at November meeting
CONTACT: Austin Counts, New Economy Field Coordinator, austin@appvoices.org, (276) 219-2751 Southwest Virginia — The New Economy Network will host a virtual meeting on November 18th, from 6 – 8 p.m., to discuss the network’s goals for 2021. All are invited…
Iron Works Cycling, Appalachian Voices receive $25,000 grant for solar installation
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, New Economy Program Manager, (276) 207-9636, chelsea@appvoices.org BIG STONE GAP, Va. — Iron Works Cycling and Appalachian Voices have received a grant from the Solar Moonshot Program to install a 16-kilowatt solar energy system on the Big…
TAGS: coalfields Hammond Climate Solutions iron works cycling just transition Left Coast Fund new economy sigora Solar solar moonshot solar workgroup southwest virginia
Southwest Virginia schools, local governments urge fair access to solar
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, New Economy Program Manager Appalachian Voices chelsea@appvoices.org 276-207-9636 NORTON, VA. – Several school boards and counties in Southwest Virginia are calling on local leaders and Appalachian Power Company to allow fair access to solar energy for their…
Solar Workgroup of Southwest Va hosts info session for businesses, nonprofits and government
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, New Economy Program Manager chelsea@appvoices.org 276-207-9636 Norton, VA — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia will host a virtual information session on September 30 at 10:30am for non-residential building owners interested in pursuing cost-effective solar projects. The…
TAGS: coalfields Lonesome Pine power purchase agreement ppa secure futures Solar southwest virginia Virginia
Pushing back on Appalachian Power’s unfair solar restrictions for schools and governments
Appalachian Power Company is blocking local schools and municipal governments from installing solar. But these public entities have the opportunity to strike a better deal during upcoming contract negotiations with the obstructionist utility.
TAGS: apco Appalachian Power net metering power purchase agreement PPAs Solar solar on schools southwest virginia Virginia
Unique partnership will bring 10 megawatts of solar, new jobs to Virginia coalfields
CONTACT: Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, cat@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373 Erik Curren, Secure Futures, erik@securefutures.solar, 540-466-6128 **Photos, graphics and a recording of this press tele-conference are available in this Google folder.** Norton, Va. — The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia today announced an…
TAGS: coal jobs mecc mountain empire photovoltaic pv secure futures Solar Energy Solar power solar workgroup southwest virginia
Restoring Appalachia through outdoor recreation
The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition held a webinar in May in which regional organizations including Appalachian Voices spoke on innovative mine reclamation work being done to turn coal-impacted lands into outdoor recreation hot spots.
Virginia commission advances solar in coalfield region
CONTACT: Chelsea Barnes, Appalachian Voices New Economy Program Manager, chelsea@appvoices.org, 276-207-9636 Southwest Virginia’s coal-bearing region is significantly closer to reaping the benefits of rooftop solar on businesses, nonprofits, schools and other government buildings. The Virginia State Corporation Commission on Friday…
TAGS: Old Dominion Power power purchase agreement ppa scc Solar solar workgroup southwest virginia state corporation commission Virginia
