Building Shared Prosperity & Clean Energy

Generations of fossil fuel development have hollowed out the Ohio River Valley economy, hemorrhaging jobs and accelerating population decline. Investing in the region’s energy transition is an opportunity to spur job growth and shared prosperity across the region.

Clean energy generation, energy efficiency retrofits, quality-of-life focused development, and large-scale initiatives to repair the damage from the oil and gas industry could create tens of thousands of jobs and revitalize long-struggling communities.  Here’s how.

“A clean energy pathway for Western Pennsylvania is less costly, creates more jobs, and more effectively reduces climate-warming emissions relative to a pathway centered around natural gas and carbon capture.” 

 

 Reports:

A Clean Energy Pathway for Southwestern Pennsylvania

Transitioning to clean energy means job growth, shared prosperity, and a safer, cleaner future for Western Pennsylvania.

The Centralia Model for Economic Transition in Distressed Communities

Centralia, Washington, a former coal town with a now-booming economy, could provide a model for clean energy and economic transition in distressed communities in Appalachia and beyond.

Repairing the Damage from Hazardous Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells

A large-scale federal program to plug abandoned oil and gas wells in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia could create thousands of well-paying jobs across the region.

Cleaning Up the Land, Air, and Water Damaged by the Coal Industry Before 1977

Cleaning up Appalachia’s thousands of acres of abandoned mine lands could create jobs, reduce climate-warming emissions, improve quality of life, and minimize environmental damage.

Cleaning Up Hazardous Coal Ash Can Create Jobs and Improve the Environment

Cleaning up hazardous coal ash sites in the Ohio Valley can alleviate environmental and public health threats and create jobs.

Options and Opportunities for Coal Plant Communities: Pennsylvania and RGGI

Revenue from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) could aid economic development in coal communities facing plant closures and energy market changes.

A Stronger Appalachian Regional Commission Vital to Economic Progress

A funding boost could enable the Appalachian Regional Commission to improve regional infrastructure and generate real, lasting prosperity.

A Big Civilian Climate Corps is Vital for Economy and Appalachia

A revamped Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) could reduce carbon emissions, grow jobs, and restore our natural resources and environment in the Ohio River Valley and beyond.

 All research on Shared Prosperity & Clean Energy:

Building on What We Have

Building on What We Have

This is the first blog in a series of local economic development initiatives strengthening local economies and anchoring investment in Appalachian Communities of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky.   Economic loss and community decline is generally...

read more
Federal Orphan Well Funding, Explained

Federal Orphan Well Funding, Explained

  At the end of January, the Biden administration and the US Department of Interior (DOI) announced the first round of $1.15 billion in funding from a new federal orphaned well program to plug, remediate, and reclaim oil and gas wells. As part of the 2021...

read more