Photo Credit: Jackson Cooper Gango
The energy sector in the U.S. and around the globe is in transition. Coal plants are shutting down earlier than expected, and conventional electricity generation is being replaced by cleaner and less expensive energy sources like renewables (wind and solar) and natural gas. Communities home to coal mines and coal plants rely on the jobs and revenue provided by the industry, and with mine and plant closures, they will face uncertain futures. The Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) is working with coal community members and policymakers to help support community-led, equitable transitions from coal to a cleaner economy.
Explore our work below.
Our Micro-documentaries: Craig, Colorado: Coal Town in Transition
Resources for Communities in Transition
The resources in this section are geared toward community members and decision-makers seeking actionable ideas to prepare for a transition.
Getting Started on a Just Transition: A Blueprint for Communities, Just Transition Fund
Solutions for Transitioning Coal-Dependent Communities, Headwaters Economics
ReImagine Appalachia Blueprint: A New Deal That Works for Us
Economic Strategy Group: Bringing Jobs to People: Improving Local Economic Development Policies
Blue Green Alliance: Solidarity for Climate Action
People Who Can Help
Suzanne Tegen, Assistant Director, Center for the New Energy Economy
Email Suzanne Tegen HereBen Alexander, Resources Legacy Fund
Email Ben Alexander HereCindy Winland, Senior Fellow, Just Transition Fund
Email Cindy Winland Here
The resources in this section provide information for state legislators, community members, and local governments on programs that provide financial assistance to support communities in transition. The examples from utility-contributed funds might provide a framework for a community “ask” of utilities’ for support during a transition.
Federal Grant Programs
USEDA Assistance to Coal Communities
Environmental Protection Agency: Coal Plant Decommissioning – Financing Cleanup and Redevelopment
Utility Contributions
Arizona: Utility Offers $169 Million Deal with Navajo Nation
Montana: Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Provides Economic Impact Funds for Colstrip
Private Philanthropy
Other Resources
Securitization: A Finance Tool for Energy Transition, Powder River Basin Resource Council (Video)
People Who Can Help
Ben Alexander, Resources Legacy Fund
Email Ben Alexander HereMark Haggerty, Economist, Headwaters Economics
Email Mark Haggerty Here- Cindy Winland, Senior Fellow, Just Transition Fund
Email Cindy Winland Here
The resources in this section are for those who want to learn about legislation related to the energy transition.
Energy Transition-Related Legislation 2019-2020 (PDF)
Source: Claire Wang. Crafting Policies for a Just Transition from Coal – Lessons from State Legislation. Rocky Mountain Institute. Publication forthcoming.
State Legislation
New Mexico
Energy Transition Act 2020 SB489
Colorado
HB19-1314: Just Transition from Coal-based Electrical Energy Economy Act 2019;
Minnesota
HF19-1842: Solar Energy Incentive Program Creating Community Energy Transition
Montana
HB19-467: Authorize Securitization for Energy Infrastructure
New York
Federal Legislation
Marshall Plan for Coal Country Act of 2020 (S.4306)
- Press Release: Senator Tammy Duckworth’s Big Idea: A Marshall Plan for Coal Country
- Analysis: How the Marshall Plan for Coal Country Fits with Other Legislation
Policy Ideas
National Economic Transition Platform – Just Transition Fund
Securitization: A Finance Tool for Energy Transition, Powder River Basin Resource Council (Video)
Regulatory Assistance Program (RAP)
Environmental Defense Fund – Economic Development Policies for Communities in Transition
The resources in this section provide specific examples of existing federal and state programs.
Federal
Environmental Protection Agency – Brownfields Federal Program Guide (2019)
Colorado
Colorado Office of Just Transition
Colorado Just Transition Plan Draft (August 2020)
Montana
Montana The Colstrip Community Impact Advisory Group
Montana The Colstrip Community Impact Advisory Group Final Report (December 2018)
Headwaters Economics – Planning For Montana’s Energy Transition (February 2016)
New Mexico
Department of Workforce Solutions – Energy Transition Act Committee
Utah
Utah Roadmap Positive Solutions on Climate and Air Quality (January 2020)
Wyoming
Wyoming ENDOW Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming (August 2018)
People Who Can Help
Suzanne Tegen, Assistant Director, Center for the New Energy Economy
Email Suzanne Tegen HereClara Summers, Climate and Energy Manager, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators
Email Clara Summers Here- Taryn Finnessey, Senior Policy Advisor, United States Climate Alliance
Email Taryn Finnessey Here
This resources in this section are for anyone looking for resources to help through employment transitions.
Labor Network for Sustainability
Career Exploration: Apprenticeship Programs by State
Department of Labor: Adult Training
The resources in this section explore energy transitions occurring around the world.
The World’s Coal Power Plants Mapped
The resources in this section provide stories from and case studies of energy communities in transition.
Adapting to Coal Plant Closures: A Framework to Understand State Energy Transition Resistance (February 2021)
Page, Arizona: The Fight for an Equitable Energy Economy for the Navajo Nation (February 2021)
Oregon: Workers Reflect on Oregon’s First and Last Coal Plant (January 2021)
Navajo Generating Station: 3 Massive Coal Stacks That Long Towered Over Lake Powell Demolished as Crowds Watched (December 2020)
Farmington, New Mexico: 4CED Receives Funding to Help with Economic Diversification Amid Uncertainties with Coal (November 2020)
Colstrip, Montana: A Harsh Reality in Coal Country – With or Without Trump (November 2020)
Pueblo, Colorado: The Electricity Journal – Case Study of the Energy Transition (October 2019)
Colstrip, Montana: $2M Grant for Colstrip Coal Worker Retraining Sits Unused after Two Years (August 2019)
CNEE Blog Post: Toward an Equitable Coal Transition (December 2018)
Colorado: Rural Economic Resiliency in Colorado: Study of Factors Impacting Resiliency (November 2016)
Photo Credit: Jackson Cooper Gango
2020 Energy Transition Academy
An energy transition is underway in America. Coal-reliant towns are facing mine and plant closures – mostly impacting rural areas. What can be done to help workers and communities remain resilient during this turbulent time? How can policymakers best help coal-reliant communities plan proactively for a successful future?
To address these questions and more, the Center for the New Energy Economy developed the Energy Transition Academy: Community Resilience Solutions for Policymakers. This Academy was an invitation-only series of eight webinars developed for Western policymakers. Five of these webinars were educational, featuring guest speakers and Q&A and were recorded (available below). Three unrecorded webinars provided opportunities for follow-up questions to our experts and for community discussion. Participants included a bipartisan group of state legislators, county commissioners, tribal leaders, state energy office representatives, and public utilities commissioners. These meetings helped participants build state and regional networks around the variety of issues associated with transitions and our experts from around the country provided important resources to enable communities to proactively address an energy transition.
2020 Energy Transition Academy Webinars and Presentations
Power Point Presentations:
