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8,000 coal workers lost their jobs in the last year, and five coal companies have gone bankrupt in the past five months.

Joined by leading scholars and advocates, Johns discusses the Navajo Nation’s historical relationship to coal and their current efforts to achieve a just transition.

Craig, CO creates new economic development role to implement community economic development programs. El Pomar Foundation provided resources for the position, as well as a Moffat County transition roadmap

“Solving this problem of large numbers of people at risk of being left behind in the transition to a clean energy economy is not just the right thing to do for people and families who have sacrificed for generations to keep the lights on—it is a necessary set of investments to ensure that the federal climate solutions we have been fighting for will be durable over time.”

The $60 billion plan—developed by mayors from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia—calls for increased federal investment in clean energy-based economic and workforce development to help heartland communities dependent on fossil fuel industries.

“We’ve taken great pride in powering America for generations, and we believe that federal commitments and investment will bring our new vision to fruition. This new way of thinking and working will once again bring employment opportunities back to the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.”

“Indeed, what scares many of these communities is the demonization from and lack of dialogue with mainstream environmentalists. They deeply fear being left behind by the energy transition, and that has become one of the motivating factors for places like Emery County to innovate with carbon capture and energy storage.”

Some West Virginians worry about Biden’s impact on fossil fuel industries, while others see a new opportunity to expand federal support for transitioning communities.

Securitization and other financing tools can help ease the energy transition for states and utilities, but they must be designed to address worker and community needs.

As Indiana coal plants close, environmental justice advocates want decision-makers to hear from communities harmed by decades of coal-related pollution.