On August 7, the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition announced its investment in five projects in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Alabama as part of its inaugural mini-grant program.

In Pennsylvania, the Coalition is supporting a project with the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation to partner with a solar developer to develop solar projects in PA’s Appalachian Coalfields ranging from 2 MW to 20 MW.

EPCAMR is assisting the developer in identifying reclaimed abandoned mine sites for solar development against screening criteria that they can add as they evaluate sites for feasibility.

EPCAMR will create a GIS data tool to identify sites. Once the tool is created and potential sites are identified, EPCAMR will aid the developer in site selection and outreach to the community and landowner(s), and eventually submit one or more AML Pilot applications.

Three other projects supported by the Coalition are located in Kentucky and one in Alabama. Read more here.

“The investments made in Alabama and Pennsylvania represent the coalition’s effort to expand its community of practice into other Appalachian states, and the investments made in Kentucky represent a reaffirmation of our commitment to land-reuse projects there,” said Joey James, Principal at Downstream Strategies. “The projects selected for the mini-grant program are community-driven, place-appropriate forms of economic development that embrace the rapidly evolving economic and social conditions of our region.”

“EPCAMR is excited to have an opportunity to develop a site selection criteria tool to assist partners and private developers consider reclaimed abandoned mine lands in Pennsylvania for potential solar installations as alternative energy economic development projects,” said Bobby Hughes, Executive Director of EPCAMR and grant recipient. “We find it very valuable to now be able to network with other coalitions across Central Appalachia as we continue to educate our communities and community leaders on additional innovative ways to reclaim our historic legacy abandoned mine lands.”

The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition is a collaboration of organizations, focused on sustainable development, in Central Appalachia: Appalachian Voices in Virginia, Appalachian Coalfield Development Corporation in West Virginia, and Rural Action in Ohio—and regional technical expert, Downstream Strategies.

The coalition works with community partnerships, organizations, and local governments to help identify, develop, fund, and implement innovative, community-focused reclamation projects that create jobs.

The coalition has engaged hundreds of people and organizations in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia, and its direct project assistance has resulted in several groundbreaking projects, totaling nearly $30 million in public and private investment in the states the organizations represent.

RAC and its mini-grant program are supported by the Just Transition Fund, New York Community Trust, and several other foundations.

For more information, visit the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition website.

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[Posted: August 7, 2020]

8/10/2020