U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm pledges help for fossil fuel-based communities amid national transition to clean energy

In a trip to the Energy Communities and Economy Forum in West Virginia last week, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm told economic development and community leaders that energy communities traditionally rooted in fossil resource generation will not be left behind by the clean energy transition.

While still planning to push full bore on President Joe Biden’s green energy plan, which calls for a carbon-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050, Granholm recognized that more than others, some communities could, without assistance, be hit hard by the decline in the use of fossil resources. This includes many communities within West Virginia itself, which has long been a redoubt for coal.

Nearly 50 stakeholders were on hand for the forum, including U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“From the last two days touring West Virginia with my friend, Senator Joe Manchin, I’ve been bowled over by the resolve of this state to seize the energy opportunity ahead and the eagerness to lead the country’s clean energy industries,” Granholm said. “West Virginia is primed to help build this country’s clean energy future, and once we pass the American Jobs Plan, we’ll roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

In addition to her general pledge for help, Granholm and attendees discussed an initial report from the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization, led by Dr. Brian Anderson, director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory.

“NETL is well-equipped to advance solutions to meet the carbon management goals for our country and develop innovative technologies to create new jobs in communities already impacted by coal mine and power plant closures,” Anderson said. “We are taking a whole-of-government approach to allocate funding and create jobs as quickly as possible.”

The report identified numerous largely coal-based communities for focused federal job-creating investment and existing federal programs with nearly $38 billion in potential funding that could be tapped to help such communities immediately. Further, it laid out several actions that could be taken within the next year to support these communities, from focusing investment on disadvantaged and environmental justice communities to launching town hall meetings and reports, as well as support for union job-creating investments.