UMWA backs Biden plan to shift from coal to renewable energy, but only if former miners get job transition training

The United Mine Workers of America "said Monday it would accept President Joe Biden’s plan to move away from coal and other fossil fuels in exchange for a 'true energy transition' that includes thousands of jobs in renewable energy and spending on technology to make coal cleaner," Matthew Daly reports for The Associated Press. UMW President Cecil Roberts "said ensuring jobs for displaced miners — including 7,000 coal workers who lost their jobs last year — is crucial to any infrastructure bill taken up by Congress." Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., appeared with Roberts at a recent event supporting the idea.

The union put out a plan for "significant expansion of tax incentives for renewable energy and preference in hiring for dislocated miners; full funding for programs to plug old oil and gas wells and clean up abandoned mines; and continued incentives to develop so-called carbon capture and storage technology that traps carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels and stores it underground," Daly reports. "The union proposal, and Manchin’s endorsement, comes as Congress is considering Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure package to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges and power grid, promote electric cars and boost clean energy such as solar and wind power. A bipartisan group of lawmakers met with Biden Monday to discuss the plan."