The Biden administration is trying to herd renewable energy companies toward communities where coal-fired power plants and mines have shuttered.
The latest carrot to tease that interest? A bonus tax credit for clean energy projects.
But even as White House officials promoted the new support on Tuesday — contrasting it with the failed efforts of the Trump era to revitalize coal country — experts warned that rebuilding these economies will take a long time and beleaguered communities may need help in accessing federal benefits.
Why Biden is focusing on coal country: President Joe Biden is pitching his climate commitments as an opportunity to build up the places that have long relied on drilling, mining, or making power from coal, oil and gas.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said coal country would rise like a phoenix — the mythical bird that’s reborn from its own ashes — during a briefing Tuesday also attended by labor, environmental and energy groups.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen struck a more practical tone, saying coal communities often have the […]
It will be interesting to see the outcome. I have a friend in coal country who attempted to grow solar energy into a widespread change. At that time, approx, 10 years ago, the coal workers refused to retrain. About the same tie, the younger generations became excited, wanting to train in alternative energy jobs.I remember being on Whidbey in local supermarket when young man in his late twenties was telling friends who were there how much better the pay was in the alternative energy field. Eyeballs were popping!
The coal industry has a lot of money behind it, even though it is the worst form of producing power, with the exception of nuclear fusion.