In the heart of Central Appalachia, a region synonymous with coal mining, a complex energy transition is unfolding, one that could reshape the future of the energy sector and its commercial impacts. Lindsay Shade, a sociologist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been at the forefront of documenting this shift, highlighting the intricate dynamics of land ownership and federal investments that are shaping the region’s energy landscape.
Shade’s research, published in Environmental Research: Energy, delves into the aftermath of coal mining, examining how the region is adapting to new energy sources and land uses. The study reveals that while there has been a surge in federal investments aimed at supporting ‘energy communities,’ the benefits are not evenly distributed. Instead, they often flow to legacy actors who have historically dominated the extractive economy.
The study underscores the role of incumbent actors in maintaining longstanding legal, economic, and political arrangements that perpetuate uneven distributions of benefits and burdens. “The success or failure of broad-based transition policies depends largely on place-based dynamics rooted in land,” Shade explains. “Who controls the land, who has access to land, who benefits from investments in land, and how public revenues flow from land—these are the critical questions that shape the energy transition.”
The research highlights several key areas of concern, including carbon forestry offsets, solar energy projects, and postmine land uses, such as prisons. These developments are often structurally linked to concentrated land ownership, which can lead to the capture of federal investments by legacy actors. This dynamic can hinder the broader goals of a just transition, where the benefits of decarbonization and energy source transitions are equitably distributed.
One of the most striking findings is the role of land ownership in shaping the energy transition. The study reveals that elites who have historically controlled the extractive economy continue to influence the landscape, often to their advantage. This control can limit the opportunities for new, more equitable energy projects to take root.
However, Shade’s research also opens up different worlds of possibilities. By examining the politics of land from a local vantage point, the study offers insights into how communities can advocate for more equitable outcomes. This could involve challenging the status quo and pushing for policies that ensure a just transition, where the benefits of new energy projects are shared more widely.
The implications of this research for the energy sector are profound. As the world moves towards decarbonization, understanding the dynamics of land ownership and federal investments will be crucial. Energy companies and policymakers alike will need to consider how to ensure that the transition to new energy sources is just and equitable.
Shade’s work, published in Environmental Research: Energy, which translates to Environmental Research: Energy, serves as a call to action. It challenges the energy sector to think more critically about the role of land and legacy actors in shaping the energy transition. By doing so, the sector can work towards a future where the benefits of new energy projects are shared more widely, creating a more just and sustainable energy landscape.
