LOBBYING FOR AN EQUITABLE ENERGY ECONOMY

In a joint analysis, the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) advocate for the government to provide federal resources to support coal workers and communities affected by our economy’s pending transition from coal-powered energy to clean energy.

The UWUA and UCS found that the Biden administration’s plan for a low-carbon economy will require a $33 billion to $83 billion investment in programs and policies to ensure that coal workers, families, and communities survive this transition.

This new energy economy will benefit the environment, but coal and mining facilities across the country expect to close. In 2019, there were approximately 90,086 employed coal miners and coal power plant workers in 462 counties across 47 states, according to the UCS/ UWUA analysis. However, the decrease in demand for coal power has uprooted families, led to generational poverty, and reduced tax revenue and community services — such as funding for education and emergency response.

The analysis proposes several policies and resources that would address these issues, such as:

Five years of full-wage replacement

Health care coverage and employer retirement contributions

Paid tuition for academic, vocational, and other programs for up to five years for workers and children

Increased access to social services

UWUA and UCS are urging the Biden administration and Congress to work together to develop policies and fund programs to protect and improve the lives of coal workers and communities as our economy undergoes this significant change.

Based on an article featured on UWUA.net