Photo: David | Pixabay
In Wise County, Virginia, people are working together to revitalize the local economy by creating new jobs in renewable energy. Formerly a hub for coal mining, the region is experiencing an economic crisis after the coal industry went into decline and many people lost their jobs. In looking for a solution, unexpected alliances are being formed among local schools, non-profit organizations, businesses, and government agencies to help communities in this part of rural central Appalachia build a sustainable economy based on renewable energy. For example, companies and schools are partnering to offer solar energy apprenticeships to local youths, who they hope will find jobs in their hometowns and become part of a skilled workforce in the area. There are also plans to convert existing land and factories for renewable manufacturing. Many people are hopeful and optimistic about the transition to an economy based on renewable energy, particularly with recent state and federal legislation directing billions of dollars towards creating green jobs. Autumn Long, a project manager at the environmental nonprofit Appalachian Voice, said “Renewables are a way to honor the region’s energy-producing legacy and be part of the 21st-century global energy transition.”
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