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.
Oil & Gas: Central to Pennsylvania politics but not its economy
I’ve gotten better at resisting the urge to respond to every inaccurate claim, every attempt to mislead, and every rhetorical flourish that...
Targeted Employment: Reconnecting Appalachia’s Disconnected Workforce
Appalachian coal country has a critical need for more employment. A national subsidized employment program could help reconnect prime-age workers to the workforce.
Ohioans are on the fence about fracking. Why is the state pushing for more drilling on public lands?
Ohio’s state parks, forests, and wildlife areas are being queued for fracking development thanks to an opaque new law infamously dubbed the...
True Transition
RGGI proceeds could kickstart job growth in Pennsylvania’s fossil fuel communities.
Updated: A Cautionary Tale of Petrochemicals from Pennsylvania
Beaver County, home to Shell Polymers Monaca, still lags Pennsylvania and the nation in key economic indicators, data show.
Hint: To do it really stupidly, you need HYDROGEN!
via GIPHY OK, in fairness to everyone who has ever built a hamster wheel to generate electricity, it probably wasn’t about the electricity....
Regardless of What They Say, Green Hydrogen Will Be Cleaner, Cheaper, and It’s Around The Corner
“The worry is that, along the way, we are going to waste huge amounts of money on the wrong use cases for hydrogen and the wrong...
Measuring the ‘Cost’ of a Disaster
A lot has happened since ORVI originally published our post on the disastrous toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Cleanup efforts are...
Green Steel in the Ohio River Valley: The Timing is Right for the Rebirth of a Clean, Green Steel Industry
A transition to fossil fuel-free “green” steelmaking could grow steel-related jobs and slash carbon emissions.
ORVI in Southeastern Louisiana to Learn about a True Transition for Oil & Gas Workers
During the third week in March, I had the opportunity to travel to southeastern Louisiana to take part in several events sponsored by True...
An Overview of the Norfolk Southern Train Derailment and Hazardous Chemical Spill in East Palestine, Ohio
Information contained within this post is current as of its publication on February 23, 2023. Due to the fluid nature of the situation...
Housing Damage from the 2022 Kentucky Flood
Two approaches to rebuilding the approximately 9,000 homes damaged by the 2022 Kentucky flood.
The Road to Flood Disaster Recovery: Resources for Housing and Outstanding Need
In a new report from the Ohio River Valley Institute and Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, we estimate it will cost $450 to 950 million to...
The East Palestine train derailment is petrochemical harm at its worst. For the industry, it’s a cost of doing business.
On Friday, February 3, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous petrochemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, sparking what may be...
Black workers helped build Appalachia’s economy. Today, they’re still shortchanged.
Here’s a name you don’t often read in Appalachian history books: Bill Worthington. Bill was a Black coal miner from Harlan County, Kentucky,...