Virginia Communities Receive Funding for Mine Reclamation Projects
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New funding was awarded to Russell County and Wise County for coal mine reclamation and community revitalization projects.
Funding was provided by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy Abandoned Mine Land Pilot grants, according to a news release. The new round of funding was announced by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, D-Va., and Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, on Thursday.
“We are excited for the local communities in Southwest Virginia who have worked tirelessly on these innovative reclamation projects, and we look forward to supporting their work as they implement their projects,” said Adam Wells, regional director of community and economic development for Appalachian Voices, a member group of the Coalition. “These two projects are excellent examples of innovative, community-driven reclamation that can be developed through dedicated reclamation funds.”
Russell County and the Dante Community Association received funds to develop new multi-use trails that will connect downtown Dante to other nearby communities and recreation areas, the release said.
Trail development is intended to attract sports enthusiasts to the area, the release stated. The hope is it will draw tourism and encourage entrepreneurs to locate new businesses in the town.
The community will also seal two open mine portals.
“We are elated to have been selected for this grant,” said Carla Glass, chair of the Dante Community Association. “Every dollar that we receive builds hope, which is necessary to keep a volunteer-driven community motivated and advancing,”
In Wise County, the Mineral Gap Data Center and Sun Tribe Solar received funding for the installation of a 3.46 megawatt solar installation. The center will provide power to the data center and remediate abandoned mine land features near the solar project site, according to the news release.
“We know that solar can succeed when projects are built in partnership with local stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, and this funding from Virginia’s Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy shows the strength of the partners we’ve found in the teams at the Wise County IDA and Mineral Gap Data Centers,” said Taylor Brown, chief technical officer of Sun Tribe Solar.
Source: Bristol Herald Courier
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