BLOG: Trying to Save a Dying (and Environmentally Unsound) Industry

In a fulfillment of one of his campaign promises, President Donald Trump is taking steps to try to save the coal industry from its steady decline.

The administration's proposal, which is currently being considered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, would force utility companies to buy power from coal generators, as well as nuclear power plants, even if less expensive options exist.

Unsurprisingly, environmentalists have slammed the plan. Coal is one of the dirtiest energy sources, as it contributes heavily to climate change and causes harmful air pollution. Forcing companies to buy and sell coal rather than cleaner energy sources like solar and wind power will only exacerbate the degree to which humans harm the earth.

Even though coal is a dirty energy source, the coal miners impacted by our society's general movement toward renewables deserve sympathy and empathy. While still espousing the virtues of renewable energy and criticizing the harmful impacts of coal, environmentalists must also reconcile with how moving away from coal will impact real people.

The answer to this, of course, is not Trump's plan of temporarily — and unrealistically — propping up a dying (and environmentally unsound) industry. Instead, there are steps that can be taken to help the people impacted by coal mines going out of business. Some of these steps include:

• Retraining coal miners to work in the renewable energy sector

• Fixing the pension and health care system for coal miners so they will be supported when mines shut down

• Investing money to send displaced coal miners to college or some form of higher education

In the end, we must move away from coal if we're going to combat climate change. Because of this, Trump's plan is nothing more than a last gasp of air for a dying industry. But this doesn't mean we should abandon those impacted by the move away from coal. In fact, it is now more than ever that they need our help.

Photo from Pixabay

#Environment #coal