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Workers and communities that rely on drilling and mining fossil fuels are used to weathering the industries’ boom and bust cycles. For example, oil and gas jobs plummeted in 2020, due to the pandemic, and mining jobs took a hit as well. But projections for coal as well as oil and gas profitability make it clear the future holds more frequent busts—and the fossil fuel industry is unlikely to ever fully recover.
This trend is occurring in the U.S. because renewable energy is now cheaper than coal energy, consumers are choosing electric alternatives, and state and federal governments are setting decarbonization goals to help slow climate change. That’s good because climate change is not just costing fossil fuel workers their jobs, it’s costing farm workers their lives.
Decarbonizing America doesn’t have to be a trade-off, though. Education and jobs programs can help fossil fuel workers transition to new industries.
“When people are moving from a position that was formerly a high-paying one and reinvesting time and energy and resources into a new career, we know that there’s a cost, and that’s why supporting them is an investment in our future,” said Rob Hill, public policy chairman for the Wyoming Association for Career and Technical Education.
In Wyoming, adult education programs are helping workers learn new skills, like welding, truck driving, and nursing. Private foundations have stepped up to help by funding scholarships. And state lawmakers there have proposed creating a scholarship fund, but it hasn’t passed yet. Meanwhile, Hill is pushing an industry-funded scholarship to help workers pursue 2- and 4-year degrees.
These programs are an example of how state, federal and private programs can achieve what the environmental community calls a “just transition." It’s important not only because it helps the folks who have kept our lights on for years keep their lights on, but because it also reduces opposition to the clean energy transition.
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What we in rural communities know is now is the time to act before we lose our lands and waters for good — and the Biden administration and our governor are acknowledging that.”
