Bill Overview
Title: National Energy Community Transition Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes a federally chartered nonprofit corporation to assist communities that have historically relied on fossil fuel energy generation or extraction with transitioning away from that reliance. The bill also endows the corporation initially with funds from the Treasury and then with a percentage of amounts received by the Treasury each year from fossil fuel and renewable energy leases on federal land. The corporation is responsible for investing its endowment and using a portion of the earnings to fund activities to assist communities with economic development and diversification and the provision of government services.
Sponsors: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Target Audience
Population: people in communities reliant on fossil fuel energy generation or extraction
Estimated Size: 25000000
- The bill targets communities that have historically relied on fossil fuel energy generation or extraction.
- This includes both workers in those industries and the broader communities affected economically by those industries.
- It considers economic development and diversification to aid in transitioning away from reliance on fossil fuels.
Reasoning
- Considering the budget constraints and target population, the policy may have a significant but gradual impact on communities reliant on fossil fuels, as transitioning involves complex economic and infrastructural changes.
- It is expected that over the years, the policy will support job retraining, economic diversification, and sustainability projects, slowly improving wellbeing.
- Due to the geographical spread and varying dependency levels on fossil fuel industries, the impact will not be uniform across all communities.
Simulated Interviews
Coal Miner (Central Appalachia, Kentucky)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've worked in the coal mines my whole life, and jobs have been disappearing fast.
- I'm worried about my job and how I'll provide for my children.
- This policy might help create new jobs and training opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Oil Rig Worker (East Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how the shift from oil will affect my work and my family's finances.
- I hope the policy provides retraining and new opportunities in my region.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 1 |
Wind Farm Technician (Oklahoma)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transitioning from oil to wind was the best choice I made.
- This policy could help others make a similar transition and improve community infrastructure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired Coal Plant Operator (Wyoming)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen many friends lose their jobs as the coal industry declines.
- I'm worried about the younger folks and their future.
- I support initiatives to bring new businesses to our area.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Community Organizer (West Virginia)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see firsthand how the loss of coal jobs affects communities.
- This bill provides a chance to rebuild with new energy sources and jobs.
- I am optimistic about the change it can bring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Graduate Student in Environmental Science (North Dakota)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that policies supporting transitions can create sustainable communities.
- It's important for academic programs to work with policymakers to find solutions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Hardware Store Owner (Midwestern small town)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our town needs investment and new opportunities; otherwise, businesses will continue to close.
- This policy might attract new developments and customers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
School Teacher (Southern Illinois)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a teacher, it's important my students have promising futures.
- I support job training initiatives that prepare them for new industries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Data Analyst at Renewable Energy Firm (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm optimistic for job growth in renewables but worried about the pace.
- The policy can enhance investment in renewable infrastructure and jobs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Environmental Activist (Northern California)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial to shift away from fossil fuels responsibly.
- This policy aligns with sustainable practices and educational efforts I'm involved in.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 3: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 5: $900000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 10: $900000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Key Considerations
- The corporation's ability to effectively invest and manage the endowment can impact long-term costs and savings.
- Energy market fluctuations could affect the availability and stability of funding from federal land leases.
- The success of economic diversification efforts will influence both local and broader economic outcomes.