Abby L. Harvey
GHG Monitor
9/26/2014
Reps. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced legislation late last week aimed at helping to retrain coal industry workers who have lost their jobs due to the downturn in the industry caused by “actions by the Federal Government, the low-cost of other forms of energy, the existence of State-to-State electricity market competition,” and other factors. Under the legislation, eligible workers would qualify for assistance in job training, job searches and relocation. “Across West Virginia communities are being decimated by what’s happening to the coal industry,” McKinley said last week in a statement. “Coal miners and other workers are being hurt by factors beyond their control, whether it’s regulations or market forces. It’s only fair we do something to help these struggling families.”
According to a Government Accountability Office report released earlier this month, more power companies are planning to retire coal-fired power plants than had been previously estimated. GAO reported initial estimates in 2012 which stated that due to increased federal regulations, low natural gas prices and other factors, 2-12 percent of the nation’s coal capacity would be retired by 2025. This month’s updated report found that roughly 13 percent of the nation’s coal generating capacity has either been retired since the initial report or is scheduled to be retired by 2025. According to the report, “The units that power companies have retired or plan to retire are generally older, smaller, more polluting and not used extensively, with some exceptions. For example, some larger generating units are also planned for retirement. In addition, the capacity is geographically concentrated in four states: Ohio (14 percent), Pennsylvania (11 percent), Kentucky (7 percent), and West Virginia (6 percent).”
