Transitioning from fossil fuel is important. From extraction to refining, delivery and eventual consumption, it’s bad for the environment, bad for the climate and bad for us. The replacement energies are being developed, but there needs to be concern for displaced workers in energy industries.
The POWER Plus plan in the President’s proposed budget addresses a portion of the problem with more than $55 million in funding for job training and creation, economic diversification and stimulus in communities that have experienced lay-offs due to the declining coal industry. A portion would also go for cleaning up property contaminated with harmful pollution.
Of course, there’s an unfriendly air in congress - so the new budget is no slam dunk. Time will tell.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/02/02/3618103/power-plus-plan-for-coal-miners/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_term=Coal,Obama,economics&utm_campaign=Climate&__surl__=Igec8&__ots__=1422972179725&__step__=1