This article was produced by Resource Rural.
Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Resource Rural-Public News Service Collaboration

Anna Carey jokes that she might like animals more than people, depending on the person. Her affinity for four-legged companions has kept her involved as special projects manager for the Leslie County Fiscal Court, the region’s municipal government that also manages the community animal shelter.

After experiencing an animal overpopulation boom following the pandemic, the rural shelter enclosed an outdoor slab to create more usable space for the dogs and cats they house. That part of the shelter, as well as the lighting throughout the facility — were ripe for efficiency upgrades. Since the county faces an increasingly tight budget, Carey said it made sense to find ways to save money wherever possible.

When she was approached by the Mountain Association about a grant opportunity that would allow the county to install solar panels on the shelter at a fraction of the full-price cost, and save money on future energy costs, she proceeded without hesitation. Carey worked with them as well as The Nature Conservancy and the Appalachian Solar Finance Fund to secure grant funding that collectively totaled more than $90,000 for the $112,000 project. The Leslie County Fiscal Court only had to contribute $20,000.

The county will also be able to obtain a tax credit from the federal government for this project, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, making the final project cost for the county essentially zero. 

“It just makes economic sense for the county,” Carey said about the minimal contribution the county would have to make. “It would decrease their bills and we could hook it up to batteries. And it would offer more long-term resiliency.”

“It’s a very clear savings. We’re in the final stages of it and the installer said that he can already see the consumption we need from the power company is going way down,” Carey said, noting that the Mountain Association helped them “basically do everything” throughout the process.

The solar installer programmed the system to switch from grid usage to battery usage during peak periods of energy consumption. With this feature the shelter can avoid being charged higher demand rates from the utility company. The shelter expects to save $5,000 in electricity costs annually.

“That’s super smart,” Carey said. “When they’re charging us the most, we can use the sun.”

Carey says that one of the most gratifying elements of the solar installation is the fact that the county’s financial contribution to the project came from coal severance funds. Those funds are accrued through taxes imposed on coal mining.

Historically Leslie County’s economy was fueled by coal. In a community that once relied so heavily on the coal industry, clean energy can be a touchy subject. Carey thinks that once people see how much money the county saves that it can put into other things for the community that this solar project and any that come in the future will be readily welcomed. It’s also an example of how the region can continue its legacy of energy production and one more way historic coal revenue contributes to its continued energy security today. 

She also appreciates that this solar installation was an example of the county testing a new solution. The cost to the county was low, the benefits and savings could be significant, and it could end up being a case study for the county on reducing costs elsewhere at other municipal buildings. 

“We’re lucky. I don’t know how we got so lucky,” Carey said of receiving the grant funding. “It’s the fiscal court’s job to be fiscally responsible. So, we’re doing our job. Sometimes it’s that simple.”


This article was produced by Resource Rural.

Nevada clean-energy proponents have launched a new website to help connect Nevadans to energy and cost-saving programs.

One of the nonprofits behind getting SaveEnergyNV.org online was the Nevada Conservation League. Angelyn Tabalba, a consultant for the group, said the free tool aims to streamline the process for folks to find federal, state and utility company programs for which they may qualify.

Some of the Trump administration executive orders have stopped Biden-era funding and investments in clean-energy initiatives, so Tabalba encouraged folks to check out what's still available now.

"These programs are already making a difference for Nevada families, whether those are tax credits to help families install solar and utilize rebates to make their home energy upgrades possible," she said. "The progress is fragile and the same clean-energy investments that are helping lowering costs for families and creating jobs across Nevada are now at risk."

While President Donald Trump has targeted some parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, some Republicans in Congress are urging the administration to leave most of the IRA intact, for the jobs and economic benefits it has brought to local communities.

Tabalba called the SaveEnergyNV website a one-stop shop and said they'll launch a Spanish-language version in the near future.

Will Pregman, loan officer and program manager for the Nevada Clean Energy Fund, said one of the biggest barriers to making energy-efficiency upgrades is the upfront costs - so tax credits and incentives can help reduce that burden. With summer on the horizon, he said, the new tool can help Nevadans ensure their air conditioning systems are ready.

"We see that demand escalate dramatically in the summer as people's old units start breaking down at inopportune times," he said, "and SaveEnergyNV can help Nevadans be proactive and find a solution to their air conditioning issues now, before they have to scramble in an emergency."

Pregman noted that the first step in lowering energy bills is getting a home energy audit, since all homes are different and will have different issues. For now, Nevadans are still able to claim up to $150 toward the cost of an energy audit thanks to tax credits in the IRA.

Over the past 15 years, West Virginians have been shelling out more of their income each month on electricity bills. Now, as lawmakers continue to push a reliance on coal, with support from the Trump administration, advocates say they are worried about residents' bottom line.

According to federal data, U.S. production of coal has steadily dropped over the past two decades.

Emmett Pepper, policy director for Energy Efficient West Virginia, said coal is now an expensive choice for producing energy compared with renewable resources. He adds big coal's grip on the state is costing households.

"We have monopolies in West Virginia for our electric utilities, so they should be run in a way that is the most cost effective reducing the bills for West Virginians," he explained.

Residents have seen their average electricity price jump by 90% since the early 2000s, according to Conservation West Virginia. The West Virginia Coal Association argues ramping up coal production will lower consumers' bills.

Last month Appalachian Power, one of the state's largest utilities, asked state regulators to raise rates to make up for operating costs. If approved, residents' bills would increase by around $5 per month. Meanwhile, Pepper noted, grants for energy efficiency and assistance are shrinking, leaving residents with few options.

"The state and federal government could be doing more to help people who are struggling with their electric bills," he continued. "Instead, we've seen a budget come out that actually completely eliminates support that people have had in the past."

More than 60% of Americans support the goal of taking steps for the nation to become carbon neutral by 2050, according to a Pew Research Center survey released last year.

A bipartisan group of current and former elected officials said the continued use of fossil fuels threatens global security and they want funding for climate investments restored.

Rep. Debbie Sariñana, D-Albuquerque, state director of Elected Officials to Protect America, is a member of the bipartisan group Elected Officials to Protect America. At the group's Energy Security Summit Tuesday, she emphasized the importance of provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Sariñana cited the 161 pumpjacks located within a mile of an elementary school adjacent to the oil-producing Permian Basin, exposing kids to cancer-causing chemicals.

"The hardest part of being a legislator is watching on this committee, where they have the representatives from their districts sitting there and they don't do anything, they don't say anything," Sariñana explained. "They don't see it as wrong because money is the most important thing about the Permian Basin."

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has asserted fossil fuels are better for energy security. The Biden administration's laws aimed to invest in domestic energy production while promoting clean energy and represent the federal government's biggest climate investments in history.

Sariñana acknowledged it can be a challenge to advocate for clean alternatives because New Mexico derives a significant portion of its revenues from fossil fuels. At the same time, the state's clean energy portfolio includes solar, geothermal and wind, with the state ranked seventh in the nation in wind generation. She noted funding for almost 1,000 state projects, covering everything from transportation to agriculture and wildfires are at risk.

"All these provisions and funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan infrastructure Law and environmental regulations must be restored for the future of our people, for their prosperity and health, and security," Sariñana contended.

An executive order by President Donald Trump April 8 instructed the Department of Justice to eliminate the independent constitutional authority of every state to govern its own climate laws.


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