As Coal Economy Crumbles, Advocates Seek Solutions to Save Two Regions
As Coal Economy Crumbles, Advocates Seek Solutions to Save Two Regions
In November, the Talen Energy Corp.
announced it would stop using coal at all of its plants, including the Montour Power Plant in the Pennsylvania’s northern Appalachia area. The phase-out comes as Texas-based Talen has already committed to end coal use at its Brunner Island plant, another Appalachia-area power plant, in favor of renewable energy generation.
The closures hit close to home, as the coal miners of Appalachia are the ones feeling the brunt of the energy transition, and job losses in the industry continue to mount. And with coal jobs evaporating as utilities and industry rush to embrace renewable energy, some are seeking solutions to ease the impact on areas hardest hit by the energy transition.