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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Despite debate in Washington over ending incentives to help Alaska's smallest places move away from traditional oil and gas-based power generation in the most remote parts of Alaska, one village above the Arctic Circle has found success and plans to invest.

Kotlik, a Yupik native village nestled on the banks of the Yukon River is using alternative energy as an economic driver.

Richard Bender, president and CEO of Kotlik Village Corporation, said the village has developed a three-phase plan to move away from oil and gas-based power to generate electricity for its 600 residents.

"Phase 1 is to purchase a battery storage system and switch gear," Bender outlined. "Phase 2 of Kotlik's energy plan is to produce energy using solar panels. Phase 3 is production of electricity using wind turbines."

Despite the success of places like Kotlik, and its aggressive plans for future alternative energy development, Washington lawmakers are debating a budget bill which would eliminate tax incentives for investing in clean power in rural Alaska, which could reduce funding for the projects the village depends on.

Kotlik collaborated with the Alaska Alaska Public Interest Research Group to produce a video about the project, which Bender noted goes beyond providing sources of alternative energy to the village.

"In addition to energy sovereignty, and sustainability, this project will have a positive impacts on health education and workforce development," Bender explained.

Bender added creating stability in those areas will spill over into different parts of the community and help the village keep people working at home, rather than moving to other places.


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The mayor of a rural Utah town said the clean energy investments and tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act are helping drive economic growth and diversify her town's energy portfolio.

Lenise Peterman, mayor of Helper, stressed tax credits have been vital for communities like hers as they help modernize their systems. But the budget reconciliation package now in Congress would eliminate major parts of Inflation Reduction Act funding, including clean energy investments.

Peterman said it could be detrimental to local people who have been able to harness the power of tax credits to grow their businesses.

"The jobs are there," Peterman emphasized. "We just need to ensure that we have the educational resources available - especially to people who may be transitioning out of a traditional coal plant or coal mining, to be able to step into those roles. But the roles are there."

She added while federal dollars in rural communities affect fewer people, their effect is triple that of urban communities. Peterman said the Inflation Reduction Act incentives will foster energy independence as power use and costs are projected to increase. Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, has been an outspoken critic of sunsetting the credits.

Peterman pointed out Helper is in a unique position, since the town of about 2,200 residents owns and operates its own electric grid. It purchases power from transmission stations but Peterman said they face challenges due to the town's aging and limited infrastructure. She sees the tax credits as part of the solution.

"For me, it's about hardening the grid so that we can then incorporate other energy types, which I hope will drive costs down for the consumers," Peterman underscored. "Because now we'll have options and not be beholden to a single energy source."

Republican leadership in Congress is hoping to pass the big budget bill and have it signed by President Donald Trump before July 4. Peterman hopes politicians are able to reach consensus and do what is best for all, rural and urban alike.

"I'm hopeful that we can move past the partisan positions that people seem to be stuck in and do what's best for all of the people," Peterman added. "I really hope that comes to fruition."


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Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., said AM radio is essential to keeping Nevadans informed, especially in emergency situations, which is why she is one of many supporting the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

The legislation, which is under consideration in Congress, would require all new cars to maintain AM radio technology despite many having made the switch to now using satellite or internet services in their cars.

Lee said while AM radio does have a sense of nostalgia associated with it, it is also about ensuring people do not lose access to essential information, such as through the National Public Warning System.

"It plays such a vital role in our emergency infrastructure," Lee emphasized. "This country is moving towards digitalizing everything but ultimately there are instances where cell coverage goes out, where things go out, and having AM radios in cars is incredibly important."

Opponents of the bill feel mandating AM radio in all new cars without addressing the radio royalty issue for sound recordings is counterintuitive. Current U.S. copyright law does not provide artists with royalties when recordings are broadcast on AM and FM radio as it does on digital streaming services, which is why calls are being made to also consider the American Music Fairness Act.

Lee noted AM radio is highly important to rural and agricultural communities, relying on the service for things such as weather updates and other necessary information and Lee added they are not the only ones.

"We all know that cybersecurity is a key issue that we are dealing with, especially in an urban center like Las Vegas," Lee pointed out. "Making sure you have sort of that stalwart in cars that can be uninterrupted is really important."

Lee stressed it is not just about having what she calls "outgoing" sources of information, but also "incoming" information provided by people about what is happening on the ground. She added it was true during the 2017 Route 91 Harvest music festival mass shooting, which left 60 people dead and many others wounded.


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