James Conca of Forbes highlights the ways in which coal country can retool itself for the future.
Coal, which used to be the economic lifeline of coal country, has been largely phased out in America due to market forces and demand for cleaner energy. Despite coal not being used for energy as much anymore, there are still ways in which coal be economically beneficial for communities including mine restoration projects and finding innovative ways to use coal for things other than energy.
“For displaced coal workers, the majority staff recommends financial support through wage replacement, health care, and job retraining and placement, along with community-oriented assistance such as coal site reclamation, investment in local leadership and entrepreneurs, temporary supplements for lost tax revenue to ensure essential services, and investments in economic diversification. The report also calls for increased funding for reclamation projects on former coal mines and oil and gas wells.”
Read the full article here.
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