How do we bring back jobs to the coal mines? (gas prices, Obama)

[Sharks With Lasers]

President-elect Trump promised people in West Virginia, Kentucky, and other places with a coal mining economy that he would bring back those jobs that have been lost over the past several years. These already Republican areas responded by voting for Trump by record margins. From what I've seen in heard in the news, those supporters want action on this and don't want it to be an empty promise.

While I'm not sure it's realistic to expect ALL of the jobs to come back like in days of yore, nor do I think that anybody (including the people living there) want all environmental protections to go away, coal mining jobs still provide hugely positive effects on the economy there. Plus, it's not realistic for all of the people who lose jobs to simply retrain everyone who lives there or relocate (and outsiders telling them to do this is really presumptuous.)

So I'm curious as to how we can "bring back jobs" to the coal mines without causing too many other problems. One thing I'm thinking of as a possibility is providing funding for clean coal research, which might make coal an acceptable alternative to natural gas or other renewable technologies. What are some other ideas that you have? I'd like to actually see people in coal mining areas have decent jobs, as basically anywhere that depends heavily on manufacturing or energy jobs are going to have busts if things are in low demand.

[tom1944]

We don’t

Coal does not come back with natural gas prices so low.

There are also studies showing solar will be less costly than coal soon.

[T-310]

The environazis will go into arm waving hysterics if Trump ramps up coal mining.

[OnOurWayHome]

So odd then how it was the Dems pushing to extend bennies for coal miners last session.

[stburr91]

I don't know if Trump said he will bring back coal mine jobs, he did say he doesn't want to kill the coal industry like Obama, and Hillary.

Originally Posted by tom1944

We don’t

Coal does not come back with natural gas prices so low.

There are also studies showing solar will be less costly than coal soon.

Natural gas prices will be going up as oil prices rise.

[blktoptrvl]

Trump will tell them that they shouldn't have taken him "literally." When he said he would BRING BACK coal jobs, what he really meant was "Lol, you gotta be kiddin me!"

[WhipperSnapper 88]

I do not understand why people would want bring back jobs that:


#1.) destroy their environment


#2.) will kill anyone who works them by causing issues like Black Lung Disease

[Dane_in_LA]

Originally Posted by Sharks With Lasers

From what I've seen in heard in the news, those supporters want action on this and don't want it to be an empty promise.

I want a date with Brooke Shields, and I think my chances are better.

One thing I'm thinking of as a possibility is providing funding for clean coal research, which might make coal an acceptable alternative to natural gas or other renewable technologies.

Oh, something like that is definitely going to happen. A nice big research initiative run by a company owned by suitably well-connected 1%er and powered by our tax money. Expect tangible results in, oh, 4 years? Possibly 8. And by "tangible results", I mean a report saying that coal is way clean, always was.

[Stymie13]

Export if there is a market... that'll **** some people off too but not all coal burning power plants will be scuttled next year.

[Dane_in_LA]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper 88

I do not understand why people would want bring back jobs that:


#1.) destroy their environment


#2.) will kill anyone who works them by causing issues like Black Lung Disease

Those jobs formed the basis of their communities, there's no denying that. Mining towns only make sense if there's mining taking place. It has to be tough to see your community crumble, your house become increasingly worthless, the young people moving out to where there are better chances.