Initially, this started out as a comment response to a post on the recommended list (I’m Done With Caring What Republicans Think) and I realized I was saying too much for a short comment, so I decided to make it into a diary instead. Furthermore, what I have to say weighs in on a Diary on the Front PAge (Democrats Honing an Economic Battle Cry for 2018). Both are good Diaries and I agree with much of what they are saying, but I disagree with the first in ways that are important.
The disagreement with the first is important.
I disagree because hearing about the problems in rural America is instructive. As someone that has done a lot of research on energy, I can say with strong confidence that coal is dying. It’s cheaper and cleaner to use other energy resources, and even venture capitalists and economists are actively talking about a disruptive energy transition.
Even if you're not a fan of natural gas, it’s one of the reasons coal is dying and it has the benefit of being substantially cleaner and less climate forcing. At the same time, onshore wind is both cheaper and cleaner than even natural gas, though it is not as dispatchable (a measure of how reliable it is 24/7 and its ability to get power to communities quickly).
If we account for environmental harm, Solar is also cheaper and cleaner than coal and natural gas. But, even if we discount the environmental effects of coal and natural gas, Solar’s LCOE (the cost of the power generating resource over its lifetime) will also be cheaper than dirty coal by 2020/2022.
Herein lies the rub. I know these things as a researcher. But, I’ve also talked to people that live in coal country and I have no good answer to people whose jobs rely on coal. Saying Solar employs more people than coal doesn’t mean those solar jobs will go to coal country. Ultimately, their problems are all of our problems. The wealthy taking advantage of workers that have few options.
Recently, Don Beyer (VA-8-D and proudly my Rep) supported an amendment to the RECLAIM Act. But first, let me provide some context for why his Amendment is important because it also weighs in on the front page diary.
Be aware that the RECLAIM Act is a little piece of legislation that takes away money from the coal industry and puts it into clean-up. The National Mining Association (NMA) has been pushing to have the authority pushed to the states or to be sunsetted altogether. They made the politically compelling argument that the funds have not been used wisely or that they have just been misused entirely. We all know their opposition is a ruse to avoid paying anything back to the communities they harm. But that’s not the point of this discussion.
Beyer introduced an Amendment during committee hearings on the RECLAIM Act to start using the funds not only for cleaning up coals harm, but also to pump money for economic development into those areas. The Amendment passed unanimously, and the RECLAIM bill left committee on a voice vote. Not surprisingly, the NMA still opposes the bill, but they won’t say that they’re initial objections were all about killing the RECLAIM Act and not about trying to spend the money more wisely.
So, now when I talk to people in coal country, I can say the Democrats hear you and are trying to do what’s right. Help those that need it. I can also go further because there are other energy plant proposals that are clean, put those plants back to work and could help people that at least work at coal-fired plants, which are often near coal country. If there is a need for funds to make these clean energy ideas come to fruition, its ideas and Amendments like Beyer’s that pave the way.
In fact, Northam (Candidate for Gov D-VA) has recently, proposed an economic plan to help rural Virginians. Will Trump supporters in these rural areas vote for either Northam or the Democrats candidates running for the Virginia House? Who knows, but it’s the right goddamn thing to do, and I hope that the Independents that chose to vote 3rd party in the Presidential election, are people that didn’t vote or the few Republicans that have abandoned Trump will vote for the Democrats. Because, once again, his proposal is there to help the people that need it.
At the same time, he supported ending a subsidy to the coal industry that has existed in Virginia for 25 years. This subsidy was going to the people that don’t need our help, and it wasn’t saving coal jobs in rural Virginia. The industry was basically pocketing the subsidy as they got rid of coal jobs with increased automation.
So, whatever you think, remember that sometimes these voters have something important to say about all of our collective experiences, we just need to be open enough to hear it. Democrats also need to start talking like the Virgina candidates that I’m proud to support. Their message is right on target. As Northam’s press release states his plan “will work to strengthen Virginia’s rural economy and build an economy that will create opportunities for all Virginians, no matter who they are or where they live.”
I do agree, however, that simply saying we want to help those that need it is a wonderful bumper sticker approach. I also agree that regardless of how hard we work to provide opportunities for everyone, that some Trump voters will just vote Republican because it's part of their identity, it’s who they are. They’ll embrace Trump and his Republican cronies regardless of how much it hurts them to do so. And, I’m done trying to convince them otherwise.
That doesn’t mean I can’t listen, learn from the fears and anxieties that we both voice and point out what Democrats are doing/supporting every opportunity I get. Notice that none of the Republicans on the committee voted against Beyer’s Amendment. And, it was a Democratic idea/ideal.
