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On Wednesday, President Biden unveiled an ambitious $2.3 trillion proposal to update our nation's infrastructure. While the plan focuses on traditional transportation projects, such as roads, bridges, and transit, it also proposes major investments in shifting towards clean energy and cleaning up existing fossil fuel development.
Biden's plan proposes investing $16 billion to plug abandoned oil and gas wells and reclaimed abandoned mines, many of which are found on public lands. The program seeks to put laid off oil and gas employees back to work, providing support to communities feeling the brunt of the transition away from fossil fuels. "This is not a train-and-pray program," said Ted Boettner of the Ohio River Valley Institute. "This funding will provide a true path for many people in the fossil fuel industry to have good-paying jobs in the places they want to live, work and raise a family."
The proposal also calls for increasing renewable energy production and leveraging existing rights-of-way for a more resilient electric grid. Additionally, Biden proposes investing $10 billion in a Civilian Climate Corps to conserve public lands and waters. The administration is proposing to pay for the plan through a range of measures, including ending tax breaks for oil and gas companies.
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Investing in orphan well clean-up would create good-paying jobs while helping reduce pollution, restore habitat and protect our climate.”
