The Appalachian Energy Summit, held in mid-July in Boone, North Carolina, had the 2017 theme, “Perspectives: Policy & Practice.” This theme highlighted the interdisciplinary approach necessary for the successful deployment of efficient and sustainable energy. Three topics from the summit—education, … Read more

Many North Carolinians, myself included, only think about electricity when we flip the switch and the lights don’t come on. Reducing electricity usage and conserving can be a distant thought at best. But really, anyone who gets a kick out … Read more

Access to clean and safe water does not come easily. While we may have mental images of people in distant parts of the world  spending their whole day traveling to and from water sources and preparing it so that it … Read more

We’re all in agreement that how you pay for it matters, but is it possible that when you pay for it matters too? Some utilities are experimenting with prepayment plans, in which customers pay in advance for a set amount … Read more