BOONE—The documentary “The Electricity Fairy” will be shown Wednesday, Sept. 16, as part of the 30^th anniversary celebration of the Center for Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University. The film begins at 7 p.m. in Room 114 Belk Library and Information Commons.

The presentation is sponsored by the Center for Appalachian Studies and University Documentary Services.

The 50-minute film was produced by Appalshop Films. Tom Hansell, co-director of University Documentary Services at Appalachian, is the director and editor.

Tom Hansell’s documentary “The Electricity Fairy” will be shown Sept. 16 at Appalachian State University. (Photo submitted.)

“The Electricity Fairy” examines America’s national addiction to fossil fuels through the lens of electricity.  Hansell follows the story of a proposed coal-fired power plant in the mountains of southwest Virginia, connecting the local controversy to the national debate over energy policy.

Present-day documentary footage is remixed with old educational films, connecting past policy to America’s current energy crisis.

Coal produces half of America’s electricity, according to the U.S. Federal Department of Energy.  The energy policy currently before Congress identifies coal as a key to America’s “energy independence.”

The Center for Appalachian Studies is a unit within Appalachian’s University College.  University College consists of the university’s integrated general education curriculum, academic support services, residential learning communities, interdisciplinary degree programs and co-curricular programming—all designed to support the work of students both inside and outside of the classroom.

###