LPDD

Pathway 5.

Electricity Decarbonization → Phasing Out the Use of Fossil Fuels for the Generation of Electricity

5.7.15 Social Policies to Facilitate a Just Carbon Transition

LPDD Recommendation: “Congress should enact and fund the RECLAIM Act of 2017 (H.R. 1731) (also known as “POWER Plus”) to provide $1 billion dollars over five years to restore abandoned coal mines to something like their natural state, while also scaling up economic diversification efforts in coal country.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Congress could adopt “carbon adjustment assistance” for dislocated carbon workers modeled on Trade Adjust­ment Assistance for workers dislocated by trade, and move toward an overall “active labor market system” through which society as a whole covers more of the costs to workers and their families of all economic transitions.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Congress could use grants, technical assistance, and peer learning to induce more companies to reposition them­selves from carbon to non-carbon energy markets, retraining and retaining more of their existing workers, and reducing job loss in communities currently dependent on carbon jobs. Congress should also require the participation of workers and their representatives in sectoral reemployment initiatives.”

LPDD Recommendation: “State legislatures could allow utilities to charge ratepayers for the cost of industrywide hiring halls and for retraining that bridges the gap between workers’ old skills and new occupations. State legislatures could require within future renewable energy portfolio standards or energy-efficiency mandates hiring preferences for workers dislocated from coal-fired power plants. State legislatures should also promote the creation of more clean energy jobs in coal country; local governments should also promote the creation of more clean energy jobs in coal country. State legislatures should re-envision the severance taxes that create natural resource trust funds as tools for phas­ing down extraction of fossil fuels and raising more near-term resources for social policies that support just transi­tions. To reduce or eliminate the wage gap between carbon and non-carbon jobs, state legislatures could establish within RPS and energy-efficiency laws occupational wage standards in non-carbon energy industry occupations.”

World Bank Report, Managing Coal Mine Closure

Congress, States and State Governments, Local Governments, Private Entities
Summarizes lessons-learned from more than two decades of World Bank assistance on coal mine closure to governments, enterprises, workers and their communities.

Just Transition Fund

Private Entities
Dedicated to creating economic opportunity for the frontline communities and workers hardest hit by the transition away from coal. They provide both grants and technical assistance to local leaders.  

Proposed American Miners Act of 2019

Congress
Would transfer certain funds to provide pension and health benefits for retired coal miners who have been affected by issues such as coal company bankruptcies.

Proposed RECLAIM Act of 2017

Congress
Would provide $1 billion dollars over five years to restore abandoned coal mines to something like their natural state, while also scaling up economic diversification efforts in coal country.

Washington’s Coal Phaseout

State Legislatures
In 2019, Washington passed SB 5116, which will require utilities in Washington to stop buying electricity generated from coal by the end of 2025. Implementing rules require consultation with burdened communities.