What We Do -     Who We Are -     AIRE’s History

Organizational & Financial Capacity

Create a dynamic and functioning organization with the skills and resources necessary to develop and sustain local renewable energy projects across Southern and Central Appalachia

Community Outreach

Engage and inform local communities about the economic, social, and environmental benefits of community-owned renewable energy and energy conservation.

Policy Research & Education

Create and defend supportive renewable energy public policies at all levels of government. Current priorities: clarify NC “Ridge Law”, County Wind Energy Ordinances, Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards, Inclining Block Electric Utility Rate Structure.

Develop Renewable Energy Projects

Facilitate the development of renewable energy projects that are envisioned, planned, installed, and owned by local communities to provide sustainable environmental and economic benefits to the community.

Sustainable Economic Development

Stimulate sustainable economic development in Appalachia through the creation of a community-based renewable energy network.

What We Do -     Who We Are -     AIRE’s History

Steve Owen, Ph.D. Executive Director

Steve Owen co-founded AIRE and serves as its Executive Director. He is also president of AIRE parent non-profit, the Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities.

Matt Cooper

Matt Cooper directs the Leola Street Community Garden in Boone, NC and does community outreach in Western North Carolina.

Caroline Poteat, Board

Caroline Poteat has a double masters degree from Appalachian State University, with concentrations in Sustainable Development and Geography & Planning. Her academic research and community involvement focus on issues of land ownership, affordable housing, and farmland preservation in Southern Appalachia.

Jeffrey Scott

Jeffrey Scott directed the National Committee for the New River prior to founding Frontline Conservation. He works with AIRE to help bridge communication gaps between conservation agencies and renewable energy concerns.

Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal is an information technology specialist at Appalachian Voices, does AIRE’s Google wind maps, and is involved with a host of AIRE projects. He is primarily focused on wind power.

Ged Moody

Ged Moody is a renewable energy policy and business consultant. He is the Sustainability Director for Appalachian State University and helps AIRE translate state and federal policy for local renewable energy projects.

Sam Welch

Sam Welch is a retired engineer focused on micro-hydro power.

Joe Smith, Board

Joe Smith is an engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. He is an Appalachian State University graduate with a Masters in Appropriate Technology. While at Appalachian State, his studies focused on renewable energy technology. He has a degree in Aerospace Engineering, has worked for Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, and has been a Peace Corps volunteer.

Ashley Tessener, Intern

Ashley will graduate from Appalachian State University in December 2009 with a BA in Anthropology and Sustainable Development. She assists AIRE in its strategic communications and community outreach efforts.

Advisory Board

• Jeff Boyer, Ph.D.
• Brent Summerville, P.E.
• Frank Adams, Ph.D.

What We Do -     Who We Are -     AIRE’s History

AIRE was formed in January 2007 as an initiative of the Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities, a 501(c) 3 non-profit educational organization. The fusion of two events led to the idea for AIRE:

1. Organizing the “Coalfield Delegation to the United Nations” to participate in a 2-year dialogue on sustainable energy
2. The failed attempt by a local family to secure a permit for their envisioned 50MW wind project in the mountains of North Carolina.

The former showcased the power of fossil fuel interests and the latter just how local that domination could go. With financial support from the Mental Insight Foundation, AIRE was launched and began researching the resistance to wind power in the southern Appalachians. It also began doing community outreach and education.