March 30 - Crazy Report
Last week, the president signed an order to alter or eliminate environmental regulations and specifically mentioned how it will revive the coal industry and put coal miners back to work. Later, he chastised the wind power industry as "...funny things spinning around in the farm fields. Who wants that?".
So, let's look at some facts:
1) The coal mining industry employs about 66,000 workers (2016). Even with removal of regulations, the industry expects employment to decline about 3% per year thru 2020 (because of automation).
2) The wind power industry currently employs about 102,000 workers (2016). The industry is forecasting employment growth of 25% per year thru 2020. Growth of 147,000 jobs over 4 years.
3) Yet, the administration is promoting coal jobs and chastising wind power jobs. They are promoting the past and sacrificing the future. Crazy?
4) Why not retrain the coal miners to be wind power technicians? It's the fastest growing job classification in the country right now. If nothing else, they'll get to work where the sun shines.
5) Trump's message to coal miners - "We want you to go down that hole (where the sun doesn't shine) and get back to digging coal again. Oh, and we want you to do it while congress figures a way to take your healthcare."
6) For some reason, they voted for him. Crazy?