Kentucky Power Company customers can’t seem to get a break. With base rate increases about every two years, and smaller hits in between, residential customers have seen their rates go up by almost 50% compared to ten years ago. Small commercial customers’ rates have gone up 32-37%, and their demand rate, which is an additional charge for the highest amount of power they use at one time, has gone up a whopping 410%. And now Kentucky Power is asking for more. 

Mountain Association, the nonprofit organization where I work, supports small businesses, nonprofits, and local governments who want to lower their energy bills through efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. Through this work, we have usage information from the accounts of over 550 Kentucky Power clients we have served. We analyzed what this rate increase would mean for our clients based on their electricity use and found they would have to spend over $1.5 million more per year in electric costs – not including increases from taxes and surcharges. 

That’s $1.5 million that won’t be used for hiring new employees, growing a business, providing health care, educating students, serving meals to the elderly, or paying police officers. One grocery store in an isolated community would have to pay over $11,000 more per year, even after they’ve invested in efficiency and solar for their store. Greenup County Schools would see an increase of over $48,000 per year for just three of their seven schools. Another county government would see an increase of over $35,000 per year. 

This is money that most Eastern Kentuckians simply do not have. Energy burden is a term for what percent of a household’s income goes to paying energy bills, and Appalachian Kentucky has some of the heaviest burdens in the country. Leslie, Letcher, and Martin Counties, which are mostly served by Kentucky Power, have energy burdens of over 6%, twice the state average. Kentucky Power’s residential and small commercial customers already pay the highest electric rates in the region without factoring in the surcharges and fees, which can add 10-15% to the bill. 

It is true that Kentucky Power faces unique challenges compared to other utilities in Kentucky. Unlike Kentucky Utilities, they serve a more rural population, which means they pay more per customer in infrastructure costs. Unlike rural electric cooperatives, Kentucky Power is a for-profit company so they must make money for their shareholders. In fact, one of the reasons they are seeking such a large increase is that, as of May 2025, Kentucky Power was not earning enough profit for their investors. However, their parent company, American Electric Power saw third quarter earnings of nearly a billion dollars. 

Kentucky Power points to declining load (which means less demand for electricity) as another reason they need to raise rates – as population declines, they’re selling less power. But continually raising rates will cause more businesses to close and more residents to move away, adding to an already steeply declining population trend. Large industrial users may be able to get special rates from a utility, but residents and small businesses don’t have that kind of bargaining power. 

We applaud Kentucky Power’s recent investments in energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses, including rebates and energy audits for residential customers, but it’s not enough to offset the increasing unaffordability of rates. We are at a crisis point and business as usual won’t cut it anymore. We need new ideas and innovative programs like virtual power plants, pay-as-you-save efficiency programs, and distributed solar that will help ratepayers lower their bills while also providing the utility with lower-cost resources they need to meet customers’ electricity needs. In fact, a new statewide report shows that a transition away from continued reliance on coal and gas and towards efficiency and renewables would save Kentuckians billions of dollars. 

The Public Service Commission is required to consider a request for a rate increase if the utility can prove they are not making their needed revenues and approved return on equity for their investors. However, they can – and must – scrutinize the decisions and investments that have led Kentucky Power to this point, so we don’t find ourselves spiraling further in the same direction with new increases proposed again two years from now. Eastern Kentucky cannot afford it. 

There are two remaining public meetings before the hearing: December 18 in Hazard and January 8 in Ashland. You can also file a comment via the PSC website: https://psc.ky.gov/Case/PublicComments/2025-00257

Carrie Ray is the Director of Energy Programs at the Mountain Association. She can be reached at carrie@mtassociation.org. 

The post Kentucky Power Company Customers Can’t Get a Break on Rate Increases  appeared first on Mountain Association.

St. Luke serves around 90 families each month through its food pantry. This past Thanksgiving, they also partnered with a local homeless advocacy group to feed 275 people. Demand for their services has increased in recent years. For example, when supplemental SNAP benefits offered during COVID ended, the pantry had to double its food distribution. 

And with so many ministries relying on the church’s facilities, energy use adds up quickly. The building’s six HVAC units keep the kitchen, pantry, and their Open Door Thrift Store running, alongside the sanctuary and other spaces, making efficiency improvements essential for both cost savings and community service – particularly in the winter. 

“Almost 80 percent of our energy is used from December through March,” Jerry Hardt, a church member and volunteer, explained. But Jerry also explained that changes aren’t just about saving money to do ministry work. 

“Pope Francis emphasized how care of the earth is no different than care for each other.” 

Pope Francis’ encyclical, the Laudato Si’ called on Catholic communities worldwide to care for creation. Encyclicals are the highest forms of the Pope’s teachings, which are circulated the world’s bishops or the entire Catholic community. In response, the Diocese of Lexington committed to achieving net-zero emissions across 50 counties by 2030, where the total amount of energy their buildings consume is equal or lower to the amount of renewable energy their buildings produce. 

To assist with this bold goal, the Mountain Association Energy Team recently held a webinar in partnership with the Diocese and developed a guide for churches on how to save energy. We are also working with several Catholic churches in our service area as they establish their savings goals. 

“St. Luke is leading the charge, having swiftly implemented the recommendations made by our team,” Josh Bills from the Mountain Association said. “We began with a billing review and then a full energy assessment and have been walking alongside the church from start to finish.”  

A review of bills identified the electric company erroneously charging St. Luke sales tax. One phone call to correct resulted in a $2,100 refund and an annual cost savings of $735 per year. Opting in to a Time-of-Day rate class with their utility opened more energy cost savings opportunities. One of the first energy cost savings improvements made was simple, but effective: installing a timer on the church’s hot water heater so it runs primarily during off-peak hours. This change alone is expected to save them $65 per month.  

Next, Appalachian EnergyWorks installed smart thermostats so temperatures can be incrementally and remotely adjusted to save energy costs by preheating and cooling the building during morning off-peak hours. They also switched out 42 light fixtures to LEDs. When insulation work completed by another contractor ran into unexpected issues given the building’s unique roof system, our team stepped in to troubleshoot and ensure everything was installed correctly.  

Now St. Luke is in conversation with the Diocese of Lexington about a solar installation, which will further shrink its energy use and allow the church to redirect those savings back into Magoffin County.  

Through smart energy choices, the church is demonstrating Laudato Si’ in action and how stewardship of the earth only strengthens their ability to serve others. 

Get a free energy assessment for your church here.

The post St. Luke Catholic Church is Cutting Energy Use, Serving More Magoffin County Families appeared first on Mountain Association.

In October 2025, local and state leaders, neighbors, and visitors gathered downtown to cut ribbons on a brand-new City Hall, police station, and fire department. 

“I hope this will be a place where you voice your concerns and your voices are heard,” Mayor David Thompson said at the gathering. 

The new City Hall is now equipped with a Level 3 EV Charger, thanks to assistance from Rural Reimagined and the Mountain Association.  

“Every day there is a car there,” said Mayor Thompson, excitedly sharing a story with the crowd about how he taps on each car’s window to find out where they are coming from. “It’s bringing people off the highway and into our downtown.”  

“EV drivers often plan trips around chargers,” said Marcia Dixon, the tourism director. “This positions Barbourville as a must-stop, where visitors can enjoy the charm of downtown and visit our historic sites.” 

The event also marked the launch of Yodel, a new automated shared calendar designed to make it easier for the community and its visitors to stay connected with what’s happening in Barbourville. Claudia Greenwood with the Barbourville Chamber of Commerce, described the frustration both event planners and the community felt in trying to advertise the town’s many happenings.  

“A lot of people were saying, ‘Well, we would have come if we had known about the festival or whatever event it may be.’ Now, with Yodel, those events are going to be easier to find and share.” 

The platform automatically gathers events from Facebook into one big master calendar. Barbourville received funding for Yodel through their participation in What’s Next EKY’s Community Accelerator program in partnership with the Mountain Association. The initiative was organized by leaders from Union Commonwealth University, the Chamber, and many other partners. 

Overall, the day was a wonderful celebration of what can happen in a small town when people come together. Senator Robert Stivers, who grew up in the area and helped secure funding for the new buildings, said it well, “It’s a chain — a strong chain — of people bringing issues to us, giving us an opportunity to make things happen.” 

EV Charging in Eastern Kentucky: Funded by a $65,000 grant from Rural Reimagined, the Barbourville charger is part of a growing effort to build out Kentucky’s EV infrastructure to draw in more tourists and bring travelers into our unique towns. The Mountain Association’s Energy Team supported by running an analysis of how much the town would need to charge users to support the additional electric use. We also connected the city with Johnathan Gambrell, a Corbin-based contractor, who completed the installation. 

Beyond bringing in new people, the chargers also create opportunities for local residents. “We want to give local people an option to consider an EV if it works for their family,” Mayor Thompson said. 

If your town or facility in one of the 54 Appalachian Kentucky counties is interested in exploring EV chargers or energy savings, contact Hope Broecker at hope@mtassociation.org or apply here.

The post Charging Ahead: Barbourville Celebrates 225 Years with New Energy appeared first on Mountain Association.

“So far in Kentucky we don’t have a significant amount of demand on the grid from data centers,” explained Byron Gary, Program Attorney at Kentucky Resources Council. “We have a few smaller operations, but nothing on the ‘hyperscale’ size seen in other places yet. If the growth projected by Louisville Gas & Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities (KU) does come about, though, we could see as much as a 20–30% increase in demand over the next 7–8 years. And this could have a real impact on costs for ratepayers.” 

That kind of increase would require the utilities to make significant new investments in Kentucky’s energy infrastructure. How those costs are distributed will matter to everyone who uses electricity. 

Utilities like LG&E and KU already received permission from state regulators to build two new gas power plants and make upgrades to existing coal units in anticipation of higher demand. They have said that data centers would pay their fair share, but Gary notes that cost allocation is not always clearly defined. 

“The companies claim that the rates paid by data centers will fully cover the costs of all the needed infrastructure, but we have our doubts,” Gary said. “If the data centers don’t materialize, existing ratepayers could end up footing the bill. Even if they do, cost allocation in a utility setting is incredibly complex — and there’s significant room for debate over who’s really driving what costs. The immediate harm to residential customers, especially those already struggling with the costs of things like housing and groceries, could be very real and if electricity costs rise, Kentucky could lose the competitive edge that attracts real, job-creating industries.” 

Higher energy costs don’t only affect households — they ripple through local economies, schools, and community institutions that depend on affordable electricity. In much of Kentucky, residents have limited opportunities to provide input on major industrial developments. Only about one-third of counties have planning and zoning ordinances, meaning that in many areas, projects like data centers can move forward with minimal public notice. 

“It doesn’t help that many local officials negotiating with the developer have signed non-disclosure agreements preventing them from openly speaking with the community about the potential project as they should,” Gary said. 

Beyond concerns about energy costs, data centers can be noisy and do not sustain many local jobs beyond construction. As data centers consider locating in Kentucky, it’s important that communities, regulators, and utilities work together to ensure that new development strengthens, rather than strains, the state’s energy system. Transparent decision-making, fair cost allocation, and thoughtful planning can help make sure that Kentucky remains an affordable and reliable place to live, work, and do business.

The Mountain Association and our partners regularly intervene in utility company proposals presented to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, our state regulators, in order to advocate for energy affordability in Eastern Kentucky.

To stay up to date with this work, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

The post Energy Costs & Data Center Development in Kentucky appeared first on Mountain Association.

“No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow,” reads the Maya Angelou quote that hangs above Mitch Smith’s desk, and he draws strength from it when he’s struggling. 

“That’s something I look up at, sometimes many times a day, depending on the challenges of the day,” Smith said. It’s a message that stays with Smith, each day, in his work at a women’s recovery center in a remote area of Perry County, Kentucky. 

It’s a message the center’s residents have to believe as well. Buckhorn Children and Family Services helps not only women and men in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. It also helps troubled boys at the Dessie Scott Children’s Home in Pine Ridge. Buckhorn works to preserve families who are at risk of having their children taken and provides foster care for kids who need significant therapeutic support.

Youth who come to Buckhorn have often experienced multiple traumas. At least three-quarters of them have a history of attempted suicide, and four out of five have experienced sexual abuse. More than half have used drugs, and 90%  have a parent with a history of drug abuse.

Smith came to Buckhorn after working in local government finance in nearby Breathitt County. “It’s been a humbling and educational experience for me as someone who never worked in this type of world prior to this job,” Smith said of his work at Buckhorn. “You read some of these files on these clients and what they face, and then you see them come in, many times in a super-fragile state, and as they work through our program and evolve and grow, it’s really hard to communicate in words the impact it has.” 

The nonprofit’s work is centered in Perry, Wolfe, Pulaski and Laurel counties, though some of their services are available to those farther afield. Many of the communities they serve are in coal country, and the decline of coal mining has contributed to further impoverishment. Wolfe County has the lowest median household income in the nation — less than $20,000 annually — and more than half of its children live below the poverty line.

As Chief Financial Officer at Buckhorn, Smith has shepherded the financing of the Rogers Cottage solar expansion, knowing that money saved on power bills can be put back into these life-changing services. The first phase of the project opened in 2021, but Buckhorn didn’t yet have the resources to build it out to full power.

The second phase of the project adds about 27 kilowatts, more than doubling its size. It is expected to provide 36,724 kilowatt hours annually, 

Appalachian Solar Finance Fund, the Mountain Association, Everybody Solar, and Solar Moonshot all contributed to the project, which Smith said depended on multiple partners. “It could have never happened any other way,” he said. “With the two phases together, you’re looking at well over $200,000. For a nonprofit, where we literally have to watch every dollar, it would have been a pipe dream.”

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, nonprofits like Buckhorn are eligible for a 30% U.S. Treasury payment after installation, along with an additional 10% because the project is located in a community impacted by the changing energy economy. Pitched as “solar in the heart of coal country,” the first phase of the Rogers Cottage array was named Solar Builder Magazine’s “Ground-Mounted Project of the Year” in 2021.

The array fulfills a long-held dream within the organization of pivoting to renewable energy sources. “Buckhorn Children and Family Services has always wanted to be a leader in our community, not only to other nonprofits, but to the private sector and to individuals as well,” Smith said. “Bringing solar and alternative sources of energy is a big way to do that to our communities. What better way to be a leader, than to actually put our best foot forward, and show people you know what the results can be, and encourage and be a resource for other people?”

Buckhorn started in 1903 as a K-12 college, then became an orphanage and children’s home. It has continued to evolve to meet the area’s significant needs, including adding adult substance abuse treatment. “We’re very remote,” Smith said of Rogers House and nearby Midway Cottage, which houses men in recovery. “There’s basically one highway in and out. The whole remoteness of it can be conducive to recovery.”

Clients can hike, canoe, garden and care for animals. They are also developing an equine therapy program operational for adults. And the solar panels have piqued client interests as they think about workforce re-entry after treatment.

“One of our objectives is to increase awareness, not only to other nonprofits and corporations, but to individuals as well,” Smith said. “It’s definitely a plus for everybody.”

It took about five years to fund and install an array capable of powering the Rogers Cottage campus, and a lot of looking up at Maya Angelou for hope. “You just have to push forward and get through it,” Smith said. “When you finally see a dream and a project, a multi-year project, come to fruition, it just shows that determination, perseverance, persistence, gets the job done every time.”

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed by the 117th Congress and signed by President Biden is a piece of federal legislation that aims to reduce inflation by lowering the cost of prescription medications, investing in domestic energy production, and promoting clean energy, among other objectives.

The post Women’s Recovery Center in Eastern Kentucky Powered by Solar appeared first on Mountain Association.

Since Cox Foods started serving the people of eastern Kentucky in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a simple statement has guided the company: “To serve the people of eastern Kentucky clean, fresh, family-friendly grocery stores at a competitive price.”

Tate Cox, the company’s president, said that simple sentence speaks volumes on how Cox Foods has succeeded.

“That’s what it is, and that’s what it’ll always be, regardless of how many people are here or what the economy is doing.  So that’s what we’ll always try to do,” he said.

A Family Legacy

Perhaps it was inevitable that Tate would end up in the grocery business.  His dad, Jimmy, helped establish the Cox Foods brand in eastern Kentucky, and his older brother, Martin, also stepped in to help.

“I grew up in Hindman, and that’s where he ran a small store and he and my mom lived in an apartment over the store.  I grew up in a double-wide trailer the first years of my life that was right next to the store and we could walk to it,” Tate said.  “From there, he expanded into multiple stores and my older brother, Martin, stepped in as well to help.  At one point, they had actually grown the company to about 14 stores throughout Kentucky and Ohio.”

But then, Tate’s dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when he was in his mid-50s and Tate was a teen.  While he was in college, his dad’s health was declining and Tate’s future took a turn.

“He and my brother asked me to kind of step into that role, so I became president of the company in February of 2020,” Tate said.  “We had to do some different things, kind of downsize and restructure the company and the group.  And then, COVID in March of 2020.”

A new president, his dad’s health declining and a national pandemic.

“It’s weird to say it was a blessing that nobody else knew how to handle it either, so you just kind of had to figure it out on your own,” Tate said.  “But we had a really good team, and that’s what allowed us to do what we needed to do and why we are still here today.”

Community Partners

Today, Cox Foods has locations in Happy, Jackson, Hyden, McDowell and West Liberty.  [Additionally, they added Pikeville to their portfolio, and have renovated that location, reopening it in 2025.]  All the locations take pride in being a valuable member of their communities, and no better example of that is when those communities have experienced a disaster.

West Liberty was the site of a massive, deadly tornado in 2012, and then there was the deadly flooding in eastern Kentucky in 2022.

“The West Liberty store was one of the few things that somehow managed to not get damaged.  We spent a lot of time just trying to be there for the community,” Tate said.  “That was the right thing to do, and we spent a lot of time handing water and cleaning supplies out.  Just being there for the community.”

Then came the floods where employees lost their homes and everything they had.

“I do think part of our job as the local grocer is to be there for people, whether it’s your own employees or the customers,” he said.  “You just [have] to be there for your communities, and I think that’s one of our greatest strengths.  This is us.  This is who we are, where we are from.  We are born and bred and raised here, and it’s our people.”

Tate said that mindset goes back to the legacy his dad left.

“I feel like my dad was one of the kindest and wisest people that I ever knew, and he always took care of people.  I can remember Christmases where he would have a box full of holiday hams and I’d ride with him around the community just handing out hams for free to people.  That leaves an imprint on your mind.”

Protecting SNAP Benefits

During the 2023 General Assembly, House Bill 367 was filed, which would have restricted SNAP eligibility requirements.  The bill did not pass the Senate, but Cox Foods knows how important the benefits are for their communities.

“I think there’s a stigma out there that eastern Kentucky is known for struggling.  And I’m from here; I understand what that means and what that feels like.  And food stamps do play a huge role in the overall health of our economy.  So many people need them and truly need them to help feed their families.  It’s not just a cliché.  I mean, people really need it.”

He said it is easy to see the impact SNAP benefits have on the community when he sees sales reports.

“The first thing you see is, wow, what happened to the SNAP benefits here?  Because you can just physically see the numbers coming in,” Tate said.  “Compare it to during COVID, when they were sending out more benefits with people, and then all [the sudden] take it away.  And you can physically see the drastic decreases.  You can see it through the month, because they come out typically first of the month, and then towards the end you see the falloff.

“It feels like there’s probably a lot of hungry people right now, which is sad.  It’s a huge part of our community, and there’s no doubt that when those things are altered or changed, it not only impacts the people in our community, which we care about the most, but it also greatly impacts the local grocer and their ability to do what they need to do to support the community.”

Cox Foods Has Seen the Region Through It All

Cox Foods has seen eastern Kentucky’s ups and downs through the coal boom and busts.

“Dad felt like he was part of that coal boom and got to see the towns thriving.  It’s weird to hear and see some of the numbers of some of the stores’ sales back in those days versus the store sales today.  You can just visibly see the change in the economy and the change in the number of people [who] are here,” Tate said.

As the region now sees its own struggles as people move out of the region, there’s the challenge of finding workers.  Cox Foods employs about 225 to 250 people.  Tate said they do all they can to attract and retain workers.  They have been fortunate to have several people that have been with the company long term, including store managers who have 40 years of experience and several employees with 25-plus years of experience.

“That’s what makes the company go.  It’s not me; it’s truly the team of people that we have,” he said.  “So many of them act and treat this company or their store as their own, and that’s the way I hope they always see it.  That’s why I feel like we’ve survived because we have some of the best people that I’ve ever met.  When someone walks through the store, they know their name, they know their family, they know what they are doing, who they are.  And that just goes such a long way with customers and being in the community.

“I do think it’s important that we are here for these people and give them what our mission statement says — fresh, clean, family-friendly grocery stores for the people of eastern Kentucky.  That’s what it is, and that’s what it’ll always be, regardless of how many people are here or what the economy is doing.  So, that’s what we’ll always try to do.  We’ll survive as long as we can.”

Partnership with Mountain Association

By Ariel Fugate

Mountain Association has supported Cox Food Group over the decades with affordable financing and energy savings expertise.

Most recently, we worked with Tate on his acquisition and renovation of the former Velocity Market in Pikeville, which they reopened as the reimagined Pikeville Fresh Market in Spring 2025. With the renovation they significantly expanded the stories produce, deli and meat departments. Our Energy Team was also happy to provide additional support in their USDA Rural Energy for America Program grant, which brought in funding to support more efficient lighting and upgraded refrigeration to support to expanded fresh options.

The post Cox Foods Keeps Its Mission for Eastern Kentucky Simple appeared first on Mountain Association.

Impacts on Kentucky Businesses & Organizations

When a rate increase is proposed, the Mountain Association Energy Team calculates the impacts on our clients. We want to make sure the nonprofits, small businesses, and local governments we work with are aware of what’s being proposed and how it’s going to affect their budgets. We looked at 218 accounts, 66 of which are small businesses, 85 are nonprofits, and 67 are local governments. If passed as proposed, this increase will raise electric bills for these clients by nearly $306,000 per year – not including increases in taxes and surcharges. One local government alone is looking at over $13,000 per year in additional electric costs. That’s money that won’t go toward hiring new employees, supporting vital services, or investing in communities.

For large commercial customers – places like grocery stores, small manufacturing facilities, medical clinics, and schools – things will get even more complicated. These customers pay a demand charge, an additional cost based on how much power they pull through their meter at one time. Right now, these customers pay for the most power they pull through their meter at one time over the course of the month. Now KU is proposing to completely restructure that rate into three separate charges based on the time of day the highest power draw happens.

I’ve been analyzing commercial electric bills for 8 years, and it took me several hours to figure out how to utilize the information from our clients’ advanced meters to understand what the impacts of the new rates would be. And that’s only the first step – customers will then need to know how to shift their operations to different times of day to reduce their costs. If you’re the owner of a grocery store, or running a school, you’re probably not going to have the time or expertise to figure that out, if it’s even possible to shift usage in the first place.

KU wants to impose a complex rate structure on an entire class of customers without, apparently, offering any assistance or resources to help them manage their increased costs. You should not need an advanced degree to understand how to manage your electric bill.

Impacts on Solar Customers

On top of all this, KU is again trying to change its solar net metering rate by slashing the amount customers would be credited for electricity they generate but don’t use immediately by nearly half. This time, however, they want it to affect existing solar customers. This means that homeowners and businesses who have installed solar since 2021 with the expectation that they would get a certain financial return could see that investment downgraded. One of our clients would see their yearly solar savings drop by nearly $1,600 per year under the proposed rate. This is especially egregious because ratepayers have looked to solar as a way to curb the impact of repeated rate increases, and now KU is trying to claw back some of those savings.

What You Can Do

Mountain Association is jointly intervening in the rate case with other public interest organizations to advocate for our clients and all the small businesses, nonprofits, local governments, and homeowners who will be impacted by this increase. It’s vitally important that the Public Service Commission also hears directly from the people that will be affected.

If you’re a KU customer, you can file a comment on this rate increase with the PSC at https://www.k4ed.org/lge-ku.html, or directly by emailing psc.comment@ky.gov, and mentioning Case No. 2025-00113. You can also attend a public meeting:

• Lexington: October 14 at 5 p.m., Bluegrass Community & Technical College: Keeneland Room, 500 Newtown Pike
• Middlesboro: October 16 at 5 p.m., Middlesboro Community Center, 705 N. Petersborough Ave
• Frankfort: November 3 at 9 a.m., PSC Offices, 211 Sower Blvd

If you’re worried about your electric bills, energy upgrades can help you reduce the impact of rate increases. KU offers rebates for commercial energy upgrades, and some commercial customers may be eligible for free lighting and thermostat upgrades. Our Energy Team can help you understand your options. Learn more and get started at mtassociation.org/energy. 

The post Kentucky Utilities Proposes to Raise Rates: What You Need to Know appeared first on Mountain Association.

As the executive director of a nonprofit affordable housing developer in rural Kentucky, Scott McReynolds has to justify every expense, despite running an organization with a $10 million annual budget. That’s why a solar installation, while environmentally attractive, didn’t seem financially viable.

However, recent updates that allow nonprofit organizations to take advantage of tax credits changed the equation.

“Once we heard about direct pay, we thought now’s the time to do it,” McReynolds said. “This can become a real cash savings for us.”

The “direct pay” he was referring to was folded into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law by President Biden. Before its implementation, nonprofits couldn’t benefit from tax credit opportunities because they generally don’t need to offset tax liabilities. With the IRA, nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive a direct payment for credit that other for-profit organizations have been utilizing all along.

McReynolds expects the Housing Development Alliance to receive upwards of $23,000, covering about a third of the cost of the $66,700 solar installation at the nonprofit’s offices. The Housing Development Alliance also worked with the Mountain Association, a nonprofit community economic development organization, to secure grant funding that covered the bulk of the cost for the organization’s 22.88kw system.

“When it’s all said and done, we will have only invested $7,900. And we’re saving $400 a month,” McReynolds said. “We have a $30-a-month electric bill for a 4,000-square-foot office. In less than two years, it’ll pay for itself.”

An improved environmental footprint, lower energy costs, and a return on investment are all positive outcomes for a solar installation at the headquarters of a nonprofit that develops affordable housing. Funders, McReynolds said, don’t think about supporting the utilities when donating to an organization. They focus on supporting the organization’s mission, or its staff. Utilities are a blind spot. So, the savings helps.

“It’s one of those things that it’s a lot of money, but it’s not a lot of money. It’s $5,000 a year, give or take. I don’t want to downplay that, but it won’t revolutionize us,” he said, of the organization’s savings. 

But, more than almost zeroing out a line-item expense, the solar installation experience gave McReynolds and his team a blueprint the organization can use to trim even more costs for the individuals they help. When creating affordable housing opportunities for rural Kentucky, the Housing Development Alliance works with people who live on “extraordinarily low” amounts of money. 

McReynolds said it’s not uncommon for the individuals they serve to be living off of $1,000 a month. Eliminating a $150 to $200 a month utility bill with solar, in that situation, could be life-changing. 

“We know a tremendous number of people where even if we gave them a home, they couldn’t pay the utilities, taxes or insurance on it,” McReynolds said. “We’re exploring now how to use solar to enhance affordability. If we could save someone $100 a month, that could be significant money.”

Flooding that devastated the area in 2022 prompted the Housing Development Alliance to build a model home, which staff used while responding to the disaster. McReynolds said, with the organization’s new, first-hand knowledge of solar’s financial benefits, the Housing Development Alliance plans to convert that model home into a rental unit with the addition of a solar array. 

The organization is also considering developing small, solar-powered, one-bedroom homes that would save on construction costs, utility costs, and taxes — offering an even more affordable home for those who need it most.

“Then, we have rental units where we pay the electric bill, so we’re probably going to evaluate them for viability for solar,” McReynolds said. “That $5,000 could quickly become $20,000 and now you’re saving. We’re currently building a house for a flood-surviving family and they’ve asked us to figure out if solar is viable on their house.”

McReynolds said the savings the organization is seeing from solar, and the ability to recoup tax credits directly, sheds light on how that tool could be used to further their mission.

“I think the direct pay is a game changer,” he said.

The post Solar Power Boosts Savings and Affordable Housing Stock appeared first on Mountain Association.

It all started in the early 1990s when Paul’s daughter came home from a boating trip with friends proclaiming that instead of continuing to save for the horse she had dreamed of, she was now saving for a boat. They soon purchased a 1962 28-foot Constellation, a vintage wooden cruiser they cheekily named “Tara’s Horse.” On their young family’s limited budget, the boat was a stretch, but Paul, an engineer by trade, was up for the challenge of restoring it. His careful work soon drew boat lovers from miles away to admire the restoration job. 

Not long after, the family added a 1960 Chris-Craft Capri to their fleet, named “Taylor’s Pony” after Paul’s son. That boat earned the 1994 Best Non-Professional Restoration award at the Antique and Classic Boat Society show in Washington. Word of Paul’s skill spread quickly, and by 2004, he had built a home overlooking Lake Cumberland with a 3,500-squarefoot shop underneath, officially launching Woodies Restorations. 

Customers from Around the World

Since then, Paul and his team of now 17 people have restored and repaired countless wooden boats and engines for boaters around the world. Their customers come from all walks of life—a French woodworker who once worked on the Eiffel Tower to a retiree in Pikeville, Kentucky, and even filmmaker Roman Coppola, son of Francis Ford Coppola. At any given time, his shop, which now totals 40,000 square feet between two locations, is handling about 30 projects.  

Paul said that whether their customer’s goal is an award-winning showpiece or a reliable family boat for relaxing weekends on the water, the team at Woodies ensures the result is both beautiful and functional. Each contractor or employee at Woodies is highly specialized, whether they are a carpenter, mechanic, or upholsterer. 

“Every project is different, and every scope and every budget is different for the person having the work done,” Paul said.  

Because this is the case, they’ve taken care to detail what customers can expect as far as costs on their website, allowing vintage boats to become more accessible to the average family. They also run a YouTube channel with more than 2,000 videos on DIY repair and maintenance.  

The work sometimes takes them far from Lake Cumberland, like a trip to Belize to replace a boat’s bottom. They currently have boats headed to Iceland and France. 

Paul’s Story

Paul grew up in the neighboring state of Indiana, where his mother—though deathly afraid of water—made sure Paul and his siblings learned to swim and respect the power of the water.  

“We grew up going to visit the old strip mine lake, riding on a pontoon made of military surplus bombs,” Paul laughed. He moved to Nancy, Kentucky in the 1980s, where he spent 27 years working as a maintenance engineer with 10 years teaching at Kentucky Community and Technical College mixed in. That early exposure to lake life, combined with his engineering background, made boat repair a natural fit, and explains why education is such a key part of Woodies.  

Expanding the Business

In 2022, Paul and the team moved into a new 30,000-square-foot facility in Jamestown. The former Fruit of the Loom jeans factory now houses their woodworking, sanding, mechanical, and shipping areas, plus space for canvas production and storage. They have Rayco and Custom Canvas & Vinyl divisions, which handle everything from upholstery and commercial awnings to Coast Guard–approved fuel tanks and custom metalwork.  

“When you can’t buy it anymore, we can make it,” Paul said. The team can cast bronze parts, build trailers, and laser-strip varnish. Working with a company on the West Coast, they can even recreate 1930s textures and colors for authentic restorations. 

Now, with affordable financing and energy expertise from the Mountain Association, Woodies Restorations is adding solar to its operations to reduce its overhead. Their large roof and high energy bills make solar an ideal solution, and it is expected to cut their bills in half.  

This type of business decision ensures that Paul and his team can keep prices affordable so that generations to come can keep classic wooden boats out on the water, whether it be the local waters of Lake Cumberland or halfway around the globe. 

Learn more about their work on the Woodies Restoration website here. 

The post Woodies Restorations: How a Father’s Love Launched a Lake Cumberland Boat Business appeared first on Mountain Association.

For Tonja and Troy Lesmeister, creating this place wasn’t just about giving people a gravel lot to base out of for a few days. It was about creating a haven in the woods that has everything travelers miss when they are on the road: things like raising a garden and animals, short-term work and community service experiences for kids or adults, or simply having access to tools and space to work on their RV. 

Designed by RVers for RVers

The Lesmeisters know RV living inside and out having traveled full-time for four years, and they also know the homeschooling community. They raised their children – and foster children – via a concept called “world schooling,” a type of home school where you travel and learn from cultures around the world. Tonja also runs a nonprofit called Traveling With A Purpose, which offers global service trips that guide participants on ethical travel and volunteering. Their unique life experiences make them well-suited to create a place like Firefly Hills, which first opened in 2024. 

“We wanted to give back to the RVing and homeschooling community by building a place that feels like coming home,” Tonja said, “and a place that is a beacon of light and love for all people.”

They described how full-time RVing can sometimes be isolating to families, where they don’t have a set community to volunteer in, or a place where family and friends can visit. 

Firefly Hills regularly hosts community-building activities, including service-oriented projects like creating ‘blessing bags’ for families to give to people in need while they are on the road, or river and road clean-ups. People also miss having challenging and different responsibilities for their kids to learn from, so they can sign up for jobs around the property while they are visiting. Adults can also sign up for ‘work-camp’ jobs where they work in exchange for a RV site, laundry, fresh eggs and any produce that is grown on-site and in season. 

Here, because people can rent out rooms in the farmhouse, or one of two RVs they have on-site, people can also comfortably host family and friends who want to spend time with them, or have a place to stay while their rig is worked on locally. 

The Snowden House – Accommodations with History & Mystery

Overlooking the property is the Snowden House, the property’s striking three-story white farmhouse built in 1924. Likely built as a Sears & Roebuck “kit house,” it was the first home in Lee County to have electricity and neighbors would once drive out to the property at night just to see the lights glowing– or maybe to catch a glimpse of ghosts that are said to occupy the home.  

Tonja told us that both herself, Firefly Hills guests, and past residents alike have reported ‘encounters’ like hearing voices, seeing a woman brushing her hair in an upstairs window, and even having the bathtub fill itself. They’ve hosted many paranormal enthusiasts from podcasters to interested locals, and they will soon be featured on Haunted Discoveries, a YouTube series in its 5^th season.  

Friendly ghosts aside, the house also offers gorgeously designed guest rooms and community spaces, complete with unique vintage decor Tonja sourced from all over Eastern Kentucky. 

Experiences for the Young at Heart

When it came time to build out the park’s play areas, the Lesmeisters asked kids themselves, who came up with three pages of ideas they are incorporating bit by bit. So far, they have the Whimsical Woods, a space full of imagination and adventure. Children can whip up creations in the mud kitchen, climb across a ninja course, or play pretend in log-built cars or a sailboat. There’s even a surf swing, a tree web for bouncing (or laying), and an ADA accessible Gaga ball pit. 

For quieter moments, kids and adults can visit the “Thinking Spot,” where a simple table and a jar of prompts give them conversation starters on topics like nature, inclusion, and travel. Adults too can relax in the hammock circle, or take a walk on the trails that span their property and their neighbors.

“We wanted this to be a place where people can use their imagination and just be in nature,” Tonja said. 

So far, it has been a success. The number one reason people extend their stay with them is because their kids don’t want to leave. 

Site Details & Upcoming Event Spaces

Of course, Firefly Hills hasn’t forgotten the basics. RVers will find full hookups, 70-foot sites, and top-notch bathhouses – including one that is ADA accessible. Two fishing ponds and shared community spaces make it easy to relax or make new friends (though they can also offer a more private experience if that’s what you’re looking for). RVers can also take advantage of their membership program which gives people access to the Snowden house, tool bays, and more.  

Their property is also designed around sustainability, a core value of Tonja and Troy’s. They collect compost from the guests each day, using it in their gardens (which guests can pick freely from), and they offer local products in their store. With support from the Mountain Association’s Energy and Lending teams, the campground has completed major energy efficiency upgrades and is now working toward adding solar. They also have battery packs to provide some resiliency in the case of power outages. 

The solar panels will offset the energy use of an additional event space they are adding to their offerings. Soon, people will also be able to reserve the house and the adjacent event space for weddings, retreats and other events for up to 75 people. When they are not having events, the space will function as a rec room for visitors for activities like ping-pong or rainy day hang-out space. 

Local Economic Impact

When their guests are ready to explore, Tonja and Troy stand by to make recommendations for must-visits in the town of Beattyville and the Red River Gorge with its world-class hiking, climbing, and array of restaurant and activity options.  

The Red River Gorge has grown extensively in recent years and draws tourists from all over the world, but many people just come for a few days at a time. At Firefly Hills, they are often staying for weeks. Tonja said they are thrilled to help bring in outside sources of money to an area that has a struggling economy. 

“Weekend RVers usually come with their coolers packed for a self-sufficient weekend, but full-time RVers are buying groceries locally, taking their animals to the veterinarian, getting their vehicles worked on, you name it.” 

Plan Your Stay

There are many fall and spooky season activities coming up at Firefly Hills – from a ticketed event to learn about paranormal detection equipment for everyday visitors, to their Dia De Los Muertos two-week experience for RVers. 

For more information, visit fireflyhillskentucky.com or follow @fireflyhillskentucky on social media. 

The post Firefly Hills: A New Kind of RV Park in the Red River Gorge appeared first on Mountain Association.