Overdrive: Fossil Fuels in Appalachia
Electricity demand is on the rise. Here, we share snapshots of energy trends in the region and how methane gas, coal and data centers are affecting our communities — and how people are pushing back.
The Feral Ponies of Grayson Highlands
Grayson Highlands State Park is always enchanting, but the real magic of the park is the ponies. Learn more about their life in the park and the people who help them thrive.
River Cleanup of Helene Debris Continues
As the region continues to recover after Hurricane Helene, a look at cleanup efforts in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina reveals lessons about how to improve the cleanup of public waterways after future floods.
Pike County Rejects Mega Landfill After Public Uproar
Many residents of Pike County, Kentucky, are breathing a sigh of relief since county commissioners finalized their decision to rescind a contract with an out-of-state waste management company.
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.
On the Front Lines of Appalachia’s Surge in Black Lung Disease
Health care for coal miners is critical given the black lung disease crisis in Central Appalachia. These clinics are vital first responders.
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.
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.
‘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.
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.
Join The Movement
Stories from AppVoices' Front Porch Blog
Naturalist’s Notebook
Saving the Ruffed Grouse, Appalachia’s Woodland Drummer
The ruffed grouse is a woodland bird that lives in young, regenerative forests in Appalachia and is considered one of the most commonly hunted birds for sport. The ruffed grouse has black or dark brown feathers on their neck, which they can raise into a distinctive collar — the ruff that gives them their name.
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.
![“The hooded warbler is what I call my spark bird, which is [the bird that] gets you into birding,” Fox says. “You see a bird, and it gets you wondering what it is, and then suddenly you discover there's this whole world of birds that you didn't know about.” Photo by Kelly Fox](https://appvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/HoodedWarbler-1024x682.jpg)
Spotting Fall Warblers at Seven Islands State Birding Park
Birding enthusiasts may be able to spot these 36 New World warbler species at Seven Islands State Birding Park in Kodak, Tennessee, this fall migration season.
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.
Protected Paths: Trails Through Public Lands
This series features lesser-known trails in Appalachia’s public lands. They show the beauty and significance of hiking on public lands.
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.
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.
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.
Lowering Costs for Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades
Tax credits and rebates can help homeowners make energy-efficient upgrades.
Across Appalachia
Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions; Virginia Creeper Trail; Seed Swaps
Compilation of Across Appalachia articles about reducing wildlife vehicle collisions in West Virginia, restoring the Virginia Creeper Trail and the history of seed swaps.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest Plan
A federal judge struck down the U.S. Forest Service’s plan to expand logging in the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, finding it violated the Endangered Species Act.
Proposed US Forest Service Reorganization Brings Uncertainty
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing a major restructuring that would consolidate offices and close 57 of its 77 research stations, including several in Appalachia.
Energy Report
Less Support for Communities with Mine Problems
The Trump administration issued a regulation to weaken the Ten Day Notice process that helps community members call in federal enforcement when state regulators don’t do a good job policing environmental problems at coal mines
Chaos at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Cuts to Public Input
The past year has brought turmoil and uncertainty to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public power provider, and its more than 10 million customers across the Tennessee Valley.
Landmark Coal Ash Protections Under Attack
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eviscerate important, hard-won regulations on coal ash, a toxic waste left after burning coal for energy.
Member Spotlight 
