For the Fossil Fuel Industry, Sustainability Does Not Have To Be a Zero-Sum Game

Coal power plants run in a rural field. Source: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg

As climate change becomes an impending harbinger of chaos, calls for decarbonization compound throughout all generations of society, with communities yearning for the magical zero: zero emissions, zero coal, zero-carbon. But, every action engenders a reaction. When activists push for progress, the fossil fuel industry lobbies in rebuttal. For example, the American Gas Association boosted its lobbying efforts and increased spending by 67% last year. The underlying reason for this is simple: their livelihoods depend upon it. Coal and carbon emissions pay for their homes, put food on their tables, and guarantee economic security. This stark divide between climate activists and the fossil fuel industry impedes societal efforts to fight against impending doom. To fight the encompassing issue of climate change, society imperatively necessitates a coalition of disparate actors, including the coal and petrochemical industry. Coal workers, power plant supervisors, and petrochemical engineers understand valuable knowledge about energy systems – knowledge that can be utilized in the coming renewable revolution. 

There exists a surplus of workers in fossil fuels and a shortage of workers in the environmental industry. Energy companies reduced coal production in recent years because renewable energy is 75% cheaper than coal. For example, Duke Energy plans to decrease coal production by 11%, while Piedmont Natural Gas promised to become methane-neutral by 2030. Corporations must lay off workers to meet these environmental conditions. Already, Duke Energy plans to retire five coal combustion stations on the outskirts of Charlotte from 2021 to 2023. The massive layoffs inevitably lead to backlash from former coal workers. If heightened, the backlash may hinder legislation towards sustainability through lobbying or protests. 

But, the fight for sustainability does not have to come at the expense of the fossil fuel community, as fossil fuel workers often retain skills needed in the renewable energy sector. These skills include knowledge of carbon combustion, explosives management, grid modernization, and energy storage. Already, policymakers are taking notice of this vital fact. President Biden’s Build Back Better plan seeks to invest in Appalachian coal communities, having already provided a $2.5 million grant to West Virginia. The program funds retraining, workforce diversification, and re-employment activities for former coal workers, helping them find new jobs in growing sectors – especially renewable energy. Indeed, jobs in renewable energy recently surpassed twelve million globally. The Build Back Better plan would capitalize on this opportunity and provide $29.2 million in total in clean-energy training for Appalachian communities. Major players in the fossil fuel industry already threw their weight behind the plan, exemplified by when the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) urged Senator Joe Manchin to pass the bill. 

But, developing just pathways for workforce retraining is easier said than done. Local projects in the past have encountered challenges. For example, Mined Minds, a nonprofit in West Virginia and Pennsylvania that teaches computer code to coal miners, faced backlash when enrollees failed to secure jobs. The program, which was as short as 16 weeks due to funding challenges, failed to teach demanded skills and provide workers with on-the-job experience. The lack of training is especially detrimental since 47.8% of occupations require on-the-job training. Additionally, many fossil fuel workers worry about lower pay rates when switching to the clean-energy sector. One worker went "from making $75,000 a year at a coal mining job to one that pays $12 or $15 an hour" after completing a four-week retraining program with the UMWA. The Biden Build Back Better plan currently lacks policies to provide financial support for the initial adjustment, although activists are already calling for compensation for coal workers during the phase-out. Failing to do so could breed hopelessness and regret, furthering political pushback and bitterness toward environmentalism. 

Although the path towards a comprehensive policy for environmental yet economic sustainability may be unclear, it is increasingly becoming apparent that the battle against climate change cannot be framed as a zero-sum game. The viewpoint ultimately believes that the advancements of sustainability come at the expense of the coal industry. Yet, to fight such an encompassing issue as climate change, society requires a united front. Simply put, sustainability should not breed division. Former fossil fuel workers and environmental organizations can and must unite, for climate change is an encompassing issue that necessitates a coalition of disparate actors. Now, policymakers must meet this imperativeness with action – aiding fossil fuel workers in career changes, smoothing the transition into environmental professions, and reducing social pushback against sustainability. Fossil fuel workers cannot be framed as an enemy – they must be viewed as a potential ally.