Forcing the market to preserve coal assets through legislation or litigation is like swimming into the current to save yourself — wasting precious energy with little result. Rather than fighting the inevitable, we should put our energy toward helping coal communities transition to a more sustainable and economically promising future. Former mines and other coal assets like power lines, machines and buildings could save hundreds of millions of dollars for new industry, while also reusing existing cleared land to avoid disruption to migration corridors.
The Appalachian Climate Technologies Coalition (ACT Now Coalition) is dramatically expanding on more than a decade of momentum after being named one of 21 winners of the American Rescue Plan’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Among the projects that will receive support from this award are a former coal railcar factory in Charleston that will be converted to a green battery institute (in partnership with Marshall University) and an electric vertical take-off and landing facility, as well as an opportunity for renewable energy expansion and a regenerative agriculture social enterprise.
Senior administration officials announced new policies that aim to ensure that rural regions hit by mine closures and shuttered power plants can get an economic boost from new federal cash for energy and infrastructure funding.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy showcases the Just Transition Fund's mission and work to support coal-impacted communties in the effort to secure historic levels of federal funding.
The pandemic exacerbated the economic, political and cultural differences in the United States. Big problems call for big solutions, which is what motivated Heidi Binko to create The Just Transition Fund to create a pathway for coal communities to move away from coal.
With historic funding available, local organizations are striving to diversify and rebuild West Virginia’s economies.
A two-part podcast exploring the topic of Just Transition and how communities and economies are transitioning away from fossil fuels in a fair and equitable way.
We know from our experience supporting economic transition in coal-impacted communities that the best way to achieve successful outcomes is to plan early and ensure that all affected stakeholders are at the table to help craft solutions. These best practices hold true for communities working to transition their economies away from other fossil fuels.
The Workday Foundation’s $1 million Just Transition Grant Fund aims to make investments in non-profit organizations working to train workers for in-demand jobs in a low-carbon economy, in part by supporting the Just Transition Fund's Federal Access Center and broadband programs.
A plan for Western countries to help fund South Africa's transition from coal was difficult to reach, but parties announced an agreement this month. It could be a model for other countries.
The effort to help displaced coal workers had a rocky start, but there is better coordination across the state and a few grant awards are initiating programs to get the ball rolling.