Revitalizing Former Coal Towns with Clean-Energy Factories

The U.S. Energy Department is funding projects in former coal towns, including West Virginia, Colorado, and Texas, to support the transition to clean energy. The projects aim to create jobs and manufacturing opportunities in communities heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The funding is part of a $1 trillion infrastructure package signed by President Biden in 2021. The program recognizes the need to address the potential job losses and economic challenges faced by workers in the fossil fuel industry as the world shifts towards cleaner energy sources. The projects will focus on manufacturing critical materials for clean energy, such as metals for fuel cells and cleaner steel, as well as wind turbines and energy-efficient windows. The initiative aims to revitalize these communities and ensure their role in strengthening America's national and energy security.