• Economic impact of existing and potential energy development
• Market barriers assessment
• Energy and environmental policy analyses
• Policy development
• Economic and fiscal policy studies
• Expert testimony and support for economic and energy policy

Creating an Economic Diversification Trust Fund (2012)

This report, published by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, examines the creation of a permanent mineral trust fund in West Virginia - the Economic Diversification Trust Fund, which would convert non-renewable natural resources into a source of sustainable wealth that serves the state today and in the future through targeted investing. Income from the fund could be used to diversify the economy, make much-needed investments in infrastructure and human capital, lower future tax burdens, and deal with costs associated with past and future mineral extraction. Downstream Strategies contributed research and analysis of future production of coal and natural gas in West Virginia and the resulting performance of the trust fund.

• Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analyses
• Energy development and market trends analyses
• Economic cost of energy development
• Energy technology analyses
• Fuel consumption and resource assessments
• Energy opportunities assessment for renewables and efficiency
• Distributed energy development and feasibility studies
• Scenario development and alternative energy futures
• Environmental impact of energy development and lifecycle environmental impact assessments
  • Criteria and hazardous air pollutants as well as greenhouse gases
  • Water quality
  • Land impacts
• Analyses of energy-related permits
• Environmental sustainability of energy options and activities
• Ecosystem services valuation

The Decline of Central Appalachian Coal (2010)

Coal production in Central Appalachia is on the decline, and this decline will likely continue in the coming decades due to three primary factors: increased competition from other coal-producing regions and sources of energy; the depletion of the most accessible, lowest-cost coal reserves; and environmental regulations. This report analyzes how each of these factors impacts coal production in Central Appalachia and argues that pending future declines require greater support for economic diversification in the region.

• Identification and support of economic transition opportunities
• Asset-based economic development support
• Value-added opportunities identification and planning
• Examination of barriers to economic and energy development
• Analyses of land use and ownership patterns

Alderson Community Energy Plan

As energy costs rise across Appalachia, local governments are examining ways to increase efficiency and stabilize costs while also promoting the development of new economic opportunities. Two ways to achieve these goals are by improving the energy efficiency of aging public buildings and installing solar panels to replace traditional fuels whose prices are increasingly volatile. This project, headed by the Town of Alderson, will result in the development of a Community Energy Plan for Alderson aimed at supporting energy efficiency improvements and the installation of solar panels for public buildings, while creating a model for sustainable energy and economic development that may be adapted for other towns and counties across the Appalachian region.

• Greenhouse gas inventories
• Lifecycle climate impacts of energy development
• Impacts of climate policies on energy portfolios
• Economic feasibility of mitigation options
• Climate mitigation and greenhouse gas reduction planning
• Cost-benefit analyses of alternative reduction and mitigation strategies
• Analyses and support for purchasing or selling carbon offsets and renewable energy credits
• Technology assessments

Economic Benefits of Wind Versus Mountaintop Removal Coal on Coal River Mountain, West Virginia (2008)

This report examines the long-term local economic benefits and externalities associated with mountaintop removal coal mining and wind turbine construction on Coal River Mountain. GIS played a crucial role in this project by analyzing the coal and wind viability data to help calculate the financial costs and benefits of an industrial wind farm versus a mountaintop removal mine on Coal River Mountain in West Virginia.

• Energy audits
• Contracting services
• Analyses of strategic and creative financing options
• Feasibility and benefit studies

West Virginia Agricultural and Rural Small Business Energy Audit Program

Downstream Strategies is assisting a team at West Virginia University in delivering energy audits for agricultural producers and rural small businesses in West Virginia. Reports include energy analyses and efficiency recommendations identified as a result of examining utility bills and building layouts, conducting building walk-throughs with occupants, examining energy consuming equipment and processes, and acquiring data through measurement devices.

• NEPA project support and analyses
• Natural resource analyses and quantification
• Renewable energy project siting and analyses
• Renewable energy resource analyses
• Economic viability analyses
• Land use and ownership analyses
• Energy corridor and routing studies
• Carbon sequestration assessments
• Gas production modeling
• Viewshed analyses
• Alternative future modeling
• Decision support tools
• Energy conservation studies

Mountaintop Removal Case Study: Pine Creek No. 1 Surface Mine Logan County, West Virginia (2010)

This report analyzes the potential impacts on water resources that would result from the operation of Mingo-Logan Coal Company’s Pine Creek No. 1 surface mine in Logan County, West Virginia. The report also provides an assessment of how the US Environmental Protection Agency’s April 1, 2010 guidance on the permitting of surface mines and valley fills should apply to the Pine Creek No. 1 permit.

• Qualitative research such as interviews, focus groups, content analyses, and case studies
• Quantitative social science research such as survey design, execution, and analyses
• Community visioning as a foundation for energy planning
• Facilitation and conference planning
• Development of strategic partnerships
• Curricula and outreach material development
• Education and outreach in the classroom and field
• Training and technical assistance

Implementing Locally Owned, Distributed Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategies For Alderson, West Virginia

This project will assist Alderson in the development of a Community Energy Plan (CEP), which will provide an opportunity to continue improving the town while ensuring that future development follows a sustainable path. We are employing a community-based approach to creating and implementing a CEP that focuses on lowering energy consumption and associated costs, integrating “green” principles into the local strategic planning process, providing a funding source for developing other renewable energy projects, and increasing awareness of sustainable practices among the Greenbrier Valley community members.