Power and Just Transitions: Struggles for a Post Coal Future in an Appalachian Valley

A just transition is the fair and inclusive process of moving to a low-carbon, sustainable economy while ensuring workers, communities, and industries in carbon-intensive sectors aren't left behind.

This Between the Lines podcast features a conversation between IDS Fellow Rosie McGee and authors John Gaventa and Gabe Schwartzman about their new book, Power and Just Transitions: Struggles for a Post‑Coal Future in an Appalachian Valley. The book examines how power is transformed during energy transitions, using the Clearfork Valley in Appalachia as an in‑depth case study.

The discussion demonstrates that energy transitions are fundamentally political, not merely technical shifts from coal to renewables. They raise deep questions about history, ownership, justice, and community agency. By centring the lived experiences of the Clearfork Valley, the podcast illuminates how power is contested, reshaped, and sometimes reclaimed during moments of profound change—offering lessons for communities, policymakers, and activists around the world.

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