By Elizabeth Ouzts for Energy News Network.
Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service Collaboration

As the first frost visits the mountains of western North Carolina, thousands of households are bracing themselves. Thinly insulated manufactured homes will provide little barrier to the cold. Gaps around doorways will invite it in. Old furnaces, if they work at all, will consume already strained monthly budgets.

A lucky fraction of these families will benefit from a flood of federal weatherization dollars headed to the state thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law passed two years ago.

But for Buncombe County residents who don’t or can’t take advantage of the decades-old Weatherization Assistance Program, there’s an innovative nonprofit in Asheville working to fill the gaps.

Since 2017, Energy Savers Network has helped some 1,000 households cut down on energy waste by tightening air seals, adding DIY storm windows, and performing other upgrades at no cost to occupants.

Designed to help complement, not supplant, federal weatherization funds, the project’s success is due in part to its speed and simplicity. And its track record has earned it a prominent place in Buncombe and Asheville’s plans for 100% renewable energy. 

“By embracing local, clean energy sources, going electric and saving energy,” said Buncombe County Council Chairperson Brownie Newman, in a press release, “we’re taking essential steps toward combating the climate crisis while ensuring a just transition for all residents.”

Distributed largely by community action agencies formed during the War on Poverty, weatherization assistance has evolved to become one of the federal government’s most successful energy efficiency programs, helping some 7 million low-income households nationwide reduce energy waste since 1976. 

But deploying assistance still presents a host of challenges: identifying potential recipients and earning their trust, hiring and training the workers who can perform the work, and remediating homes with immediate health and safety repair needs. Clients-to-be in Buncombe County may spend a year or more on a waitlist. 

Though southwestern North Carolina is set to receive $4.8 million over five years as part of the state’s $90 million share of the infrastructure law, just 440 single-family households are expected to benefit over the 13-county region. 

With some 18,000 families living in energy-inefficient manufactured homes in Buncombe County alone, the demand for energy efficiency upgrades far exceeds the supply of assistance. 

That’s where Energy Savers Network comes in. The concept began 100 miles west in Hayesville, where members of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church “answered a combined moral calling to help the poor and be good stewards of Creation,” Interfaith Power and Light wrote.

The team of parishioners and other volunteers helped families cut their energy use by 10% to 20% — first conducting an audit, then tracking down free or low-cost materials, and finally performing simple upgrades like replacing lighting or adding weather stripping free of charge.

When church member Brad Rouse, a one-time financial and utility consultant, decided to devote his time to climate causes and move to Asheville, he brought Good Shepherd’s idea with him.

Today, the Energy Savers project is staffed by a small team at the Green Built Alliance, but the volunteer spirit and the simplicity remain. 

At farmers’ markets, community events, and through word of mouth, potential clients indicate interest. Staff then follow up to ensure they meet the income guidelines and can otherwise benefit from energy efficiency upgrades. 

“We do a lot of the intake over the phone,” said Hannah Egan, the project’s outreach and resource manager, “explaining what we might be doing, what we need from them, how long the appointment could last.”

A visit is scheduled. A staff person and two to three volunteers arrive and do what they can accomplish in a day. “Once we’ve qualified the client over the phone, we just go there with our crew,” Egan said. “It’s just a lot easier to do it all in one go.” 

They seal air leaks. They replace lightbulbs, insulate hot water heaters, and reinforce single-paned windows. “And then more as we see fit,” Egan said, “because every home is different. Our goal with that is to make homes more comfortable, reduce their energy usage and their utility bills.”

On average, the improvements help occupants cut energy use about 15%, fueling a virtuous cycle. “A lot of times, when we do get in their homes,” Egan said, “they’re really happy with the work we do,” prompting friend and family referrals. “That’s been a main source of client recruitment since COVID.” 

Hiring building performance expert Kelvin Bonilla onto the Energy Savers team, Egan said, “drastically improved the quality of our work.” A native of Honduras, Bonilla has also helped spread the word to the county’s sizable Spanish-speaking community.

“He’s a really good people person,” Egan said. “He’s very professional, and he knows how far to go and when to stop.” 

Many times, Energy Savers refers clients to Community Action Opportunities, the local provider of weatherization assistance. In some cases, they can return to repair or replace ailing furnaces with high-efficiency heat pumps. Dogwood Health Trust also funds minor home repairs, such as replacing a door or damaged flooring.

With additional support from Duke Energy, the city and the county, the team serves roughly four households a week and nearly 200 a year. From start to finish, the process takes between two and six weeks. 

Moving forward, the hope is to both expand the scope of work and serve as a model to other communities. “We asked for an increase,” Rouse said. “There’s still a little bit of a hole. In order to expand the way we would really like to expand, we need more money.”


Elizabeth Ouzts wrote this article for Energy News Network.


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A new program aims to ensure rural Mainers can take full advantage of expanding high-speed internet service.

Grant applications open this week for nonprofits, tribal entities and others to train underserved communities in technical skills and online safety.

Maggie Drummond-Bahl, senior director of digital equity and partnerships for the Maine Connectivity Authority, said the funds are directed at those most affected by the so-called 'digital divide,' including older Mainers, veterans and people with disabilities.

"We know the needs are pretty significant," Drummond-Bahl acknowledged. "This is really a down payment in starting to address some of those needs."

Drummond-Bahl pointed out the goal is to fund the agencies and organizations already connected and working to improve their communities. Maine has been awarded nearly $6 million to implement its Digital Equity Plan, which includes expanding broadband service and ensuring its affordability. Roughly 5% of rural areas in Maine still struggle with slow or unreliable internet.

The Maine Connectivity Authority aims to secure at least 25,000 donated devices for refurbishment, including laptops and tablets. Part of the new funding will be used to promote a statewide campaign to encourage businesses and organizations to contribute. Drummond-Bahl noted previous surveys revealed many Mainers are not confident in their digital skills but can learn to better use these devices in a familiar setting.

"If you're an older adult and you are already connected to your local Area Agency on Aging or another partner like that, it is a real benefit to have a digital skills training with an organization you're comfortable and already connected to," Drummond-Bahl emphasized.

Drummond-Bahl explained the campaign to recycle and reuse devices feeds into the state's environmental and climate goals to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions. She added funds will also help develop a new online tool to help people locate community resources and the digital skills training they need.


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By the end of June, students in seven very remote rural New Mexico school districts will get access to high-speed home internet through a state grant program.

The "Student Connect" program was established by the legislature in 2021.

Mike Curtis, public relations coordinator for New Mexico's Office of Broadband Access and Expansion, said the disparity in students with and without internet to complete homework was a source of frustration during the pandemic.

"A lot of kids who live in rural areas, while they get internet at schools, once they get home or in other parts of their communities, there's no internet," Curtis explained.

Curtis pointed out statewide, $70 million has been designated to expand broadband in unserved and underserved areas and all projects are scheduled for completion by June 30.

Curtis noted $56 million has been awarded through the Connect New Mexico Fund so far and the recent award is from a subprogram created specifically to help students. He emphasized the new broadband infrastructure will connect more than 4,600 homes, businesses, farms and other locations.

"It's an assistance program. It's not a merit program, so they're not competing with any other entities," Curtis stressed. "They apply for the money and then, within six months they'll be getting service. And they also get three years of free internet if they apply."

He said the money will go toward building towers, installing fixed wireless service and providing receivers to homes.


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Several rural communities across North Dakota are strategizing how to slow the pace of local grocery stores shutting down.

Some are making use of state grant money to aid their efforts, but challenges remain.

In North Dakota's Walsh County, the Rural Access Distribution Cooperative has been on the leading edge of establishing local grocery store co-ops, where a handful of smaller shops buy items in bulk together.

The initiative was eventually awarded a state grant to buy a bigger truck and van, making supply deliveries more manageable.

Cooperative President Alexander Bata said they continue to see progress with increased sales, and better options for area residents.

"So, there's less waste, less cost," said Bata, "and we've significantly improved the quality of food."

However, other elements of the initiative still face hurdles.

That includes utilizing food lockers, where customers can buy their food online and pick it up when they choose. But Bata said they haven't been able to make the technology work.

In 2023, the Legislature approved $1 million for interested communities to sustain grocery service in smaller towns with limited access.

The town of Milnor, with a population of around 600, was one of the early grantees - and used its money for a feasibility study.

Milnor's Community Economic Development Coordinator Carol Peterson said those findings were clear - their lone grocery store needs more storage space to stay afloat.

"It makes it very hard," said Peterson, "to order in enough product to service the community."

That limits the store from keeping prices lower.

Peterson said she worries more customers will then look at far away options, taking their tax dollars with them. While local leaders did get a read on what's needed, they haven't been able to secure additional funding for the next phase.

A key legislative sponsor of the pilot grant program says there's interest in extending it next session, but she's still gathering feedback.


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