Research
The Ohio River Valley Institute examines some of the region’s most pressing challenges. We provide policy analysis and practical tools for building a stronger Appalachia. All of our research is available for you to cite, use, and share, per our free use policy.
Coal Mine Cleanup in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Explained
In November 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which made historic investments in the reclamation of...
Appalachian States Should Proceed with Caution on CCUS, Hydrogen Hub Initiative
A new initiative to develop a carbon capture and hydrogen hub in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia is unlikely to create many permanent jobs, boost…
Should DOE’s Vision of an Ohio Valley CO2 Hub be DOA?
The recent movie, “Don’t Look Up”, parodies our response to the climate crisis and, in particular, political leaders whose attitude seems to be,...
Black Storytelling and Policymaking in Appalachia
Black storytelling is a necessary precondition for sound, equitable policymaking in Appalachia.
Despite “Winning” GDP Gains, Ohio’s Fracking Counties Lost Big in 2020
A recent story in the Columbus Dispatch reported that “two small eastern Ohio counties in the heart of Ohio's natural gas country posted the biggest...
ORVI Insider #30: The Rise of ‘Frackaging’
Natural gas production in Appalachia and beyond has fueled an excess of plastic packaging.
The Growth of Frackaging
Plans for Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Development in Appalachia
When President Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill into law, he authorized billions of dollars in new federal spending to support the...
2021 in Review
As 2021 draws to a close, the Ohio River Valley Institute is looking back with gratitude and excitement on our first full year of operation. We’ve...
ORVI Insider #29: Looking Back on 2021
As 2021 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a year of progress.
Stayin’ Alive: The Last Days of Stripper Wells in the Ohio River Valley
Low-producing oil and gas wells could soon become costly public liabilities.
Takeaways | A Cautionary Tale of Petrochemicals from Pennsylvania
ORVI Insider #28: Large-scale Development by Shell Hasn’t Spurred Economic Growth in Beaver County
A new research brief finds that Beaver County has fallen behind the state and the nation in nearly every measure of economic activity since the announcement of the Shell ethane cracker in 2012.
A Cautionary Tale of Petrochemicals from Pennsylvania
Beaver County, Pennsylvania has fallen behind the state and the nation in nearly every measure of economic activity since the Shell petrochemicals complex was announced in 2012, data show.
Bitcoin Mining Breathes Life into Zombie Coal Plants
Bitcoin is on the verge of going mainstream, with some companies -- and even countries -- recognizing the cryptocurrency as legal tender. The market...