Finally, a real world example of how benefit-cost analysis should be used in practice. Alberta takes the revenues that represent a portion of the society wide benefits and distributes those to the losers from the policy change. Economists have almost always ignored the problem of how to compensate losers in changes in social policy, and of course those who keep losing increasingly oppose any more policies. Instead of dreaming up ways to invest carbon market revenues in whiz bang solutions, we first need to focus on who’s being left behind so they are not resentful, and become a key political impediment to doing the right thing.
A report on how to assist coal miners during the energy transition:
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/just-transition/the-best-policies-to-help-coal-towns-weather-the-switch-to-renewables
https://rmi.org/insight/ensuring-an-inclusive-clean-energy-transition/
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The federal government is offering $11B for coal cleanup costs to 22 states and the Navajo Nation. This is the right direction: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/fossil-fuels/us-coal-communities-get-historic-11-billion-to-clean-up-abandoned-mines
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Two examples of how to help coal miners and their communities:
1) Centralia financed a retraining program with several options that has now generated a net benefit.
2) Paying each coal miner a $600,000 payout would cost a fairly minimal $30 billion.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/unlocking-the-transition-politicians-tout-renewable-energy-jobs-for-ex-fos/609335/
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Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia may be choose to help West Virginia transition away from coal.
https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/how-west-virginia-stands-to-gain-from-bidens-climate-agenda/
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More on energy transition policies for communities that rely on fossil fuels production. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/decades-long-decline-in-rural-infrastructure-could-pose-barrier-to-coal-tra/599263
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The Biden Administration has identified up to $38B available for mitigating coal retirement, but the solutions aren’t as straightforward as once thought. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/white-house-identifies-38b-to-aid-coal-sector-transition-but-likely-not-e/599002/
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Equitable energy transition will require more than funding and job training
https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/equitable-energy-transition-job-training-bloomberg-american-cities-challenge/598695/
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Vistra plans to retire 6,800 MW of coal in Illinois by 2027.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/vistra-retire-68-gw-coal-blames-irreparably-dysfunctional-miso-market/586113/
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The Navajo Nation is suing Tuscon Electric Power for local economic damages from closing coal plants in Arizona: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/navajo-nation-calls-for-tucson-electric-to-pay-millions-for-coal-retirement/571562/
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Yes, yes, yes.
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