Hi John, 

There have been more than 22 million jobless claims filed in the US since the COVID-19 crisis began, and this week we learned that more than 100,000 jobs were lost in the clean energy sector in March. This news further illustrates how this crisis is impacting every aspect of the economy.
 
As the demand for clean energy grows, so has the industry, including a variety of jobs ranging from electricians, roofers to plumbers to hybrid car factory workers—many employed by small businesses. The clean energy industry has become an increasingly critical aspect of the American economy, improving our global competitiveness and placing us closer to our climate goals. The crisis will likely have long-term impacts on the industry, making it clear that this sector should be considered in future phases of recovery. 
 
And just one week after we learned of the connection between COVID-19 mortality rates and long-term exposure to air pollutants, the Trump Administration announced plans to loosen mercury emissions regulations for oil and coal-fired power plants. As Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy at Third Way, Josh Freed, said in a statement, “It is utterly immoral for the Trump Administration to handcuff science and allow coal and oil power plants to emit more mercury and other air pollution. This was never justifiable. Now that we’re in the midst of a pandemic made worse in the United States by an Administration that flagrantly disregards scientific expertise, it is thoroughly repugnant.”

The Changing US Energy Landscape 

Recently, President Trump met with leaders of the coal and oil industry after being left out of the $2 trillion stimulus package. But recent reports show that even before the COVID-19 crisis, US oil in the Permian Basin was already experiencing a downturn. The economic fallout of the crisis has exacerbated the decline, providing the President with a fresh opportunity to make good on a campaign promise to revitalize struggling coal and oil. As the US continues to make a transition to clean energy, it will be equally, if not more important, to ensure that clean and renewable energy projects and businesses are thriving during and after this crisis. Even with new jobless claims, the industry has a proven track record of stability. It also serves to address climate change, another slow-moving disaster that, if not mitigated, will have negative economic and health impacts. 

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