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

Economic first responders: CDFIs, the unsung heroes of Appalachian financial services 

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.

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

Virginia Tech’s solar projects power campus toward carbon neutrality goal

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.

Swipe to Support: How two college students are tackling hunger in Appalachia

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. 

Group of people smile for poised photo in front of 300 solar panels atop the three-story William B. Robertson Administration Building in downtown Roanoke.

Roanoke City Public Schools invests in students and saves big with solar

On a beautiful, sunny, clear Earth Day, leaders adorned with green ribbons from the Roanoke City Public Schools were taking in the view — not the view of McAfee Knob and Tinker Mountain looming in the distance, but of roughly 300 shiny new solar panels mounted atop the William B. Robertson Administration Building in downtown Roanoke. 

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Zionville Ramp Co. filled with supplies as Stateline began to grow on Oct. 9. Photo courtesy of Stateline Resource Station.

How a skate park became a long-term disaster relief hub

What started as a simple act of checking in with each other after Hurricane Helene quickly turned into State Line Resource Station, a grassroots relief effort that has since provided thousands of people with food, supplies and long-term recovery assistance, operating out of Zionville Ramp Co., an indoor skate park in Trade, Tennessee.

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Sheep grazing under solar panels in a green field in Virginia.

Grazing in the sun: Enterprising farmers pair agriculture with solar power

Agrivoltaics is the practice of using land for both agricultural and solar energy production. It involves traditional ground-mounted solar arrays where panels are elevated or spaced out to allow for crop production, pollinator habitats or grazing. Advocates believe that when done well, the practice can numerous environmental and economic benefits for Appalachian communities.

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SEEED’s Career Readiness Training 2025 spring cohort at Alex Haley Heritage Square in Knoxville, Tenn. According to the nonprofit’s 2024 Year in Review report, 28 students graduated the CRP last year. Following the completion of the CRP program, young adults can enter one of the nonprofit’s bootcamps focused on green construction methods or community engagement. Photo courtesy of SEEED.

Green jobs, healthy communities: A conversation with SEEED’s Stan Johnson and JD Jackson 

SEEED, a nonprofit operating in Knoxville, Tenn., provides “pathways out of poverty for young adults through career readiness training, environmental education and community engagement.” The following is a Q&A with two members of the organization’s leadership team.

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MountainTrue's Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill holding and Eastern Hellbender that will be relocated prior the the demolition of the Shulls Mill Dam. Photo courtney of Karim Olaechea, MountainTrue.

Endangered species listing could help save Eastern hellbenders in Appalachian streams

On Dec. 12, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposal to classify the Eastern hellbender, the largest aquatic salamander in North America, as endangered.

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ARP’s co-executive directors Tiffany (left) and Taysha DeVaughan (right) cut the ribbon at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on ARP’s land in Roxana, KY. (PC- Dr. Artie Ann Bates)

Community-based Indigenous organization acquires property on proposed federal prison site as part of grassroots effort to create a different future for Eastern Kentucky

The Appalachian Rekindling Project held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate its recent purchase of a 63-acre plot of land within the currently designated boundaries of a federal prison proposed for construction in Letcher County, Kentucky.

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Workers pour concrete to form stairs coming down from the pedestrian bridge from the McAfee Knob trailhead parking lot across Virginia 311. Photo by Dan Radmacher.

UPDATE: Pedestrian bridge opens for McAfee Knob trail crossing

Soon, Appalachian Trail hikers will be able to use a 90-foot-long, steel and concrete pedestrian bridge to move safely over Virginia 311 at McAfee Knob trail crossing.

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Photo of two people in front of an animal shelter with a colorful mural of a dog. Photo by Michael Chassereau from Forever and Always Photography.

Animal shelter finds the purr-fect solar solution to cutting costs

Funding for a rural Kentucky animal shelter was limited, but a cluster of federal grants made the installation of a solar array a real possibility. The project will reduce utility costs and serve as a clean energy example in a community that has long relied on the coal industry.

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MountainTrue's Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill holding and Eastern Hellbender that will be relocated prior the the demolition of the Shulls Mill Dam. Photo courtney of Karim Olaechea, MountainTrue.

Endangered species listing could help save Eastern hellbenders in Appalachian streams

On Dec. 12, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposal to classify the Eastern hellbender, the largest aquatic salamander in North America, as endangered.

Read More
A woman holds a spotted skunk.

Why Appalachia’s Spotted Skunk is so Rare

The eastern spotted skunk was not always as rare as it is today. Find out what researcher Emily Thorne has learned about this master of malodor.

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Endangered Tiny Tarantula Faces Habitat Loss

An endangered, tiny tarantula living in moss in the Appalachian Mountains is losing more of its habitat.

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Workers pour concrete to form stairs coming down from the pedestrian bridge from the McAfee Knob trailhead parking lot across Virginia 311. Photo by Dan Radmacher.

UPDATE: Pedestrian bridge opens for McAfee Knob trail crossing

Soon, Appalachian Trail hikers will be able to use a 90-foot-long, steel and concrete pedestrian bridge to move safely over Virginia 311 at McAfee Knob trail crossing.

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A man sits beside a wooden shelter in the woods.

Views and Brews

There’s nothing better than some time on the trail followed by a smooth cup of java or something with a little kick. Enjoy this carefully crafted list of the perfect pairings.

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A couple sits atop the grassy summit of Max Patch, taking in the views under a beautiful blue sky dotted with white cumulous clouds.

How Max Patch Bald is Finally Healing

After overuse forced the closure of Max Patch Bald, efforts by the U.S. Forestry Service and trail groups to restore the area show dramatic progress.

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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.

East Tennessee nonprofit welcomes first-time homebuyers into affordable, energy-efficient home

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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A hand is seen holding an infrared camera screen.

Lowering Costs for Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades

Tax credits and rebates can help homeowners make energy-efficient upgrades.

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A man in a white shirt with his back to the camera uses a flexible tube to blow insulation into an attic.

How Home Repairs Enable Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Funding for a Virginia program that helps low-income residents repair their homes and receive energy-efficiency upgrades is at risk.

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

Economic first responders: CDFIs, the unsung heroes of Appalachian financial services 

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.

Read More
ARP’s co-executive directors Tiffany (left) and Taysha DeVaughan (right) cut the ribbon at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on ARP’s land in Roxana, KY. (PC- Dr. Artie Ann Bates)

Community-based Indigenous organization acquires property on proposed federal prison site as part of grassroots effort to create a different future for Eastern Kentucky

The Appalachian Rekindling Project held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate its recent purchase of a 63-acre plot of land within the currently designated boundaries of a federal prison proposed for construction in Letcher County, Kentucky.

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New Effort to Reduce ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water

The Environmental Protection Agency set stricter limits on the levels of certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water and is providing funding to test and treat public water systems and private wells.

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Biden Admin Finalizes Silica Rule Update

A new federal rule would cut miners’ exposure to silica dust, but miners and their advocates have concerns about whether industry will follow the new rule under the current enforcement mechanisms.

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Reducing Methane Emissions from Wells Could Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs

Decommissioning unplugged oil and gas wells and reducing emissions at operating wells in accordance with new federal guidelines would create tens of thousands of jobs across four states, according to a recent report.

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TVA Moves Forward with Kingston Gas Plant

Ignoring EPA concerns and calls from lawmakers for more transparency, Tennessee Valley Authority moved forward with plans to convert the Kingston Fossil Plant from coal to methane.

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Dan Firth

Volunteer monitors coal mine data and maintains Appalachian…

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Mary Lou Dauray

Steadfast Support for Appalachian Voices  By Adam Wagner …

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Betsy Shepard

Betsy Shepard of Surry, Virginia is a dynamo….

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