The Opportunity for Clean Energy and Jobs in Kentucky

Yesterday, members of the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance (KYSEA) took to the capitol to ask legislators to support the Clean Energy Opportunity Act, or House Bill 167. This bill "asks utilities in Kentucky to gradually increase the share of their electricity mix that comes from renewables and energy efficiency. A recent study projects that over the next ten years this could create 28,000 net new jobs and result in lower average bills, compared to the 'do nothing' scenario." What could clean energy and energy effiency opportunities mean for Appalachia? WMMT's terrific radio program Mountain Talk interviewed two local renewable energy practitioners, Nathan Hall and Matt Partymiller, to learn "how growing our clean energy economy can bring good quality jobs to our region and help homeowners and business owners reducer their monthly energy bills," along with discussion of current legislation in Frankfort that could help get us there. Listen to the great interview...

Enrollment Open for FastTrac Entrepreneurship Class

  Have you thought about starting a business? Do you have a new business that needs help getting off the ground? If so, MACED is offering FastTrac NewVenture classes in Floyd and Rockcastle Counties in March. We can help you test your idea and get your business going.  The road to successful entrepreneurship begins with passion for an idea, a business plan based on research and analysis and the persistence to pursue the vision. Supporting the early stages of this process, FastTrac® NewVenture™ is designed to introduce the key elements of successful entrepreneurship. Written by entrepreneurs for aspiring entrepreneurs, FastTrac® NewVenture™ offers essential business information to help develop entrepreneurial skills and build a strong business foundation. FastTrac® offers non-traditional, experiential learning with hands-on coaching sessions. Opportunities to network and learn from peers as well as seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals who work with start-up businesses are a key part of the experience.   The FastTrac® Program is a $700 Value and Includes: • The Kauffman FastTrac® NewVenture™ entrepreneur manual. • Life-long access to the Kauffman FastTrac® on-line toolkit and resource center. This service provides business planning templates, action steps, activities, videos and additional business information resources to help in your FastTrac® NewVenture™ program and in the years that follow. • The FastTrac® program consisting of 10 evening sessions led by a FastTrac® certified facilitator and supported by business coaches, local business speakers and the local business community. • Access to a growing local community of entrepreneurs and organizations who will...

Solar helps empower Charleston couple

From the Charleston Gazette's February 25 edition: By Megan Workman CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mary Beth Mangus hasn't spent any money on gasoline this year. The local chiropractor drives an all-electric Nissan Leaf to work every day. While gas prices rose 20 to 30 cents per gallon throughout the state last week, Mangus did not visit a gas station once to refuel. In December, Mangus and her husband, Ed Weber, had an electric vehicle-charging station installed by Mountain View Solar at their Charleston home. Soon after, solar panels adorned their home's roof. "We have a commitment to being as kind to the environment as possible to reduce our carbon footprint," said Weber, an architect. "It's a lifestyle choice. To make our own power is important to us." Mangus said the Leaf is a perfect commuter car, although she can't take it on longer trips. When the car is 100 percent charged, it can travel about 100 miles — but the manufacturers recommend charging the car to 80 percent to travel 80 miles. Hauling the 5-door hatchback up hills also consumes a lot of the car's battery, she said. Despite being limited in distance traveling, Mangus said driving the bright blue electric car is worth eliminating her visits to the pump. It costs $3.50 to fully charge the Leaf. A gallon of gas cost $3.79 entering the weekend at most gas stations around Charleston. The couple's vehicle charging station is the first project of its kind for Mountain View Solar. The company,...

Hydraulic fracturing rare in Ky., but Appalachian Forum poses questions about regulation and pollution of gas drilling...

This article originally appeared in The Rural Blog earlier this week: By Ivy Brashear Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues Geologists, professors, activists and experts came together for the Appalachian Forum on Hydraulic Fracturing last night at the University of Kentucky to discuss fracking as a means of natural-gas extraction in the state. Kentucky gas wells usually go about 5,000 feet below the surface, much shallower than the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, where there has been the most controversy about hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking. The development of those shales and others, through horizontal drilling and hydrofracking, has greatly boosted U.S. gas resources, and shale gas is expected to make up 49 percent of U.S. gas production by 2035. The shales in Kentucky have much more clay, and that discourages hydrofracking in the state because water makes clay formations swell, inhibiting the release of gas. Instead, Kentucky drillers frack with liquid nitrogen. “Every shale well in Kentucky is fracked,” said Rick Bender, vice president of BlackRidge Resource Partners, a Lexington firm with gas wells in Ohio. “Without fracking, we couldn’t get the gas out.” Bender, former longtime director of the state Division of Oil and Gas, said nitrogen fracking creates little waste because chemicals aren’t used, and nitrogen fracking is “generally very safe.” After fracking, the nitrogen is released into the atmosphere, which is 71 percent nitrogen, an inert gas. Drilling it right Faulty well construction presents the biggest risk for groundwater...

Raise Your Voice for Clean Energy in Kentucky!

Join members of the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance in showing your support for clean energy in Kentucky: Kentuckians are ready to reap the benefits of clean energy. Energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions are already working in Kentucky to reduce energy costs, create jobs and improve our health and well-being. But new policies are needed before we can realize the full benefits of this transition.. We can’t afford for Kentucky’s workers, families and businesses to be left behind as other states ramp up their investments in one of the fastest growing sectors of our national economy. Your voice is needed to urge Kentucky’s General Assembly to pass HB 167, the Clean Energy Opportunity Act. HB 167, sponsored by Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, asks utilities in Kentucky to gradually increase the share of their electricity mix that comes from renewables and energy efficiency. A recent study projects that over the next ten years this could create 28,000 net new jobs and result in lower average bills, compared to the “do nothing” scenario. Kentucky cannot afford to do nothing! Take Action Here are two ways you can help support this important legislation: 1) Call the toll-free message line (1-) and leave a message for your state Senator and state Representative. A suggested message is: It’s time to invest in clean energy solutions that can put Kentuckians to work and curb energy costs for families, farms and businesses. Please support HB 167.” 2) Come to Frankfort on Tuesday, February 28 to participate...

Mark Your Calendar: Managing Woodlands for Specialty Forest Products...

Looking for ways to earn extra money with your forestland? A daylong workshop for landowners and forestry professionals will be held on March 9th at the Robinson Center in Breathitt County, KY. Speakers from the University of Kentucky, Cooperative Extension and Rural Action will discuss woodland management, growing non-timber forest products like mushrooms and ginseng and even beekeeping. The event is free and lunch is provided. For more information, including an agenda and how to RSVP, click below. Managing Woodlands for Specialty Forest Products When: Friday, March 9, 2012, 9am to 4:30pm Who: For Natural Resource Professionals and Forest Landowners RSVP to Tanner at or Jackie at x 285. Workshop Agenda and Activities 9:00-9:15 – Arrival and Welcome 9:15-9:50 – "The Woodland Resource: Managing for Multiple Benefits" presented by Billy Thomas 9:55-10:55 – "Growing American Ginseng and Goldenseal in an Appalachian Hardwood Forest" presented by Tanner Filyaw 11:00 – 12:00 "Producing and Marketing Gourmet Woodland Mushrooms," presented by Dr. Deborah Hill 1:00 – 2:00 "Ramps: Cultivation for Conservation and Profit," presented by Tanner Filyaw 2:05 – 3:05 "Beekeeping 101: Managing Habitats for Bee Forage and Honey Production," presented by Dr. Deborah Hill 3:10-4:10 – "Pawpaw: The Native Fruit of the Appalachian Forest," presented by Dr. Kirk Pomper 4:10-4:30 – Close and Departure Sponsored by UK Cooperative Extension, Rural Action, US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, MACED and Appalachian Sustainable...

Floyd Countians Planning for Future of Their Community

Engaged and active residents of Floyd County, KY are meeting at the end of March for a strategic planning and visioning session around the potential for sustainable agriculture to bolster their community. The invitation describes the meeting as: "a 2-day strategic planning process with community citizens, leaders and stakeholders to determine how we can build the capacity of Floyd County Kentucky through sustainable agriculture.  We are hoping to build a social, economic and environmental system that knits people together and cultivates a new relationship economy that favors local over distant in food production, buying and other transactions."  This kind of active planning and discussion is of critical importance in Appalachia. Our communities have tremendous, unique assets that can be built upon, and grassroots, bottom-up planning creates buy-in, engagement and excitement. We are eager to hear what happens next! If you'd like to attend the meeting, more information is below. Place:  1st United Methodist Church, N. Arnold Avenue Prestonsburg TIME:   March 30 –  Friday night 6:00 – 8:00pm –            6:00 meet and greet.             6:30 Dinner            7:00  Dessert and Formal Welcome – beginning of the planning process – ideas, opportunities and priorities            8:00 Closing MENU:  Homemade Venison stew and beef stew, salad, homemade bread. *  Anyone vegetarian – please let us know.      We need people to bring homemade desserts  (email me with what you can bring)             March 31 – Saturday – 9:00 – 1:00pm  (breaks & brunch provided)           9:00 – begin session with overview of the day.                    Working...

Hazard Herald Asks the Big Questions

Cris Ritchie begins his Valentine's Day editorial in the Hazard Herald with a stark observation: So, what does it mean for Eastern Kentucky, where coal jobs have been the backbone of our economy, when companies begin cutting jobs and closing mines? Twenty years ago it would have meant that the coal industry is simply in the midst of a slowdown, and we’ll have another boom in a few years. Now, I’m not so sure. His editorial, published yesterday, asks "Where do we go without coal?" and readers of this blog won't be surprised that Ritchie doesn't have an easy answer to his own questions.  But taken in conjunction with last week's "E. Ky. needs more concern over job losses in coal" editorial in the same paper, these pieces articulate the same questions Appalachian Transition readers seek to answer.  Take a look at Ritchie's pieces and let us know what your thoughts are — is this a problem of leadership? vision? economic policy? and, perhaps most importantly — where do we go from here? The following originally appeared in the February 7, 2012 Hazard-Herald: by Cris Ritchie EDITORIAL: E. Ky. needs more concern over job losses in coal Eastern Kentucky over the past few decades has failed to diversify its economy, and now our collective chickens are coming home to roost in the form of an uncertain and seemingly vulnerable coal industry. We're all aware that coal as an industry is cyclical in nature, and in as much we can...