In early April, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced eight recipients of $20 billion in grants under two competitions (National Clean Investment Fund, NCIF, and Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, CCIA). These initiatives fall under the umbrella of the historic $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).
The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition has released its annual report, “National to Neighborhoods: Catalyzing Opportunities for Coal-Impacted Communities.” This report details success stories such as Coalfield Development’s historic Build Back Better project, Appalachian Voices’ work to develop Biological Carbon Removal reclamation models, and Rural Action’s efforts to build outdoor recreation assets. Communities across the Appalachian states of Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia are benefiting from federal resources, including more than $11 billion in funds for the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program.
The Appalachian Climate Technologies Coalition (ACT Now Coalition) is dramatically expanding on more than a decade of momentum after being named one of 21 winners of the American Rescue Plan’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Among the projects that will receive support from this award are a former coal railcar factory in Charleston that will be converted to a green battery institute (in partnership with Marshall University) and an electric vertical take-off and landing facility, as well as an opportunity for renewable energy expansion and a regenerative agriculture social enterprise.
As severe weather events increase, so does danger to rural communities. Plans are in place to address the urban observation bias in national weather prediction, but the other piece — reliable broadband — could still be years away for places like Eastern Kentucky.
The Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and Appalachian Voices released a report that shows benefits paid to miners with black lung, and their families, have fallen behind the cost of living and rising inflation.
As the long-awaited rule from the Mine Safety and Health Administration to protect coal miners from exposure to respirable silica goes through the Office of Management and Budget, the connection between new mining technologies and methods, toxic silica dust, and the resurgence of black lung is increasing the urgency for action.
To kick off the Broadband Initiative, the JTF has invested nearly $1 million in eight organizations working to close the digital divide in coal-impacted communities across the U.S.
With historic funding available, local organizations are striving to diversify and rebuild West Virginia’s economies.
Through federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and American Rescue Plan (ARP), Appalachian states have a chance to take a big step towards affordable, quality broadband for nearly everyone. A new paper by ReImagine Appalachia details essential recommendations to maximize the impact of broadband rollout in the region.
The Department of the Interior announced that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is making $122.5 million in fiscal year 2022 funding for Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grants available to eligible states and Tribes.
