Sec. 601. The Center for Clean Energy Workforce Development
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This Act hereby establishes the Center for Clean Energy Workforce Development within the Department of Labor. The Center shall identify the employment potential of the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry and the skills and training needed for workers in those fields, and make recommendations to the President and Congress for policies to promote employment growth and access to jobs. The council shall prioritize maximizing employment opportunities for fossil fuel workers displaced in the transition to renewable energy, and residents of areas identified as Environmental Justice.
The Center shall establish, in consultation with communities over represented on unemployment rolls, a target for the number of new renewable energy jobs to be created in the United States and shall also set a target for the number of new renewable energy jobs to be created for fossil fuel workers displaced in the transition to renewable energy, and residents of areas identified as environmental justice communities. The Center shall work with labor unions and other relevant community stakeholders to establish job training and workforce development programs sufficient to meet renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce demands.
Relocation assistance will be prioritized for fossil fuel workers displaced in the transition to renewable energy, and residents of disadvantaged communities and low-income communities. States may apply for Federal resources to extend unemployment benefits for fossil fuel workers displaced in the transition to renewable energy. States, local units of government or businesses applying for Federal resources to support the transition to 100 percent renewable energy must create an advisory council to develop a comprehensive plan for their transition.
The council must include American Indian, Alaska Native Tribes, Native Hawaiian Leaders, Native Organizations and Indigenous communities, low-income communities, people of color, immigrants, environmental justice organizations and networks and those who are disproportionately burdened by pollution. People from these communities shall have a leading role in the development and implementation of a clean energy plan and related regulations. Workers are eligible when transitioning between jobs or are underemployed, they maintain eligibility until they have a salary, pension, and health care benefits package within 10 percent of the previous benefits package.
For the first 5 years, coal workers are eligible. Then, if 20 percent or more jobs are lost in other energy sectors, eligibility opens for those workers as well. For up to three years, workers may receive unemployment insurance, health care, and pension based on their previous salary. Workers may also receive job training, healthcare, and living expenses for up to four years. If a worker is ready to retire, they may opt for pension support and health care. Employers shall receive tax credits to incentivize hiring transitioning employees.
Once thirty-five or more workers in a county become eligible for the program created by this Act, that county becomes eligible to apply for targeted, need-based development funds through an interagency effort spearheaded by the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA). Funds will be allocated through: Appalachian Regional Commission
(ARC)to assist economic growth in Appalachian communities. Appalachian communities most affected by coal economy transition will receive $40,000,000 annually for a range of economic development planning and implementation activities. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Assistance Programs
(EDAP)to assist economically distressed communities by fostering an environment conducive to job creation and economic growth. The Act includes $10,000,000 annually to coordinate Federal economic development funds governmentwide. The agency will take a leadership role in planning and coordination to communities and Federal agencies. In order to address the continuing legacy of coal abandoned mine lands
(AML)on the health, safety, environment and economic development potential of communities, the Act provides $250,000,000 annually to States and tribes for the reclamation of abandoned coal mine land sites and associated polluted waters in a manner that promotes sustainable redevelopment in economically distressed coal country communities. OSMRE will seek input from States, tribes and other stakeholders as it finalizes details of this proposal. The remainder ($7 billion over 10 years) goes to eligible counties for water, broadband, and electric grid infrastructure investments. Workers eligible for benefits under this section shall have the right unionize by requiring only a majority of eligible workers to sign authorizations with the National Labor Relations Board. Workers eligible for benefits under this section shall have the right to negotiate within 10 days of union certification and provides the option of mediation after 90 days and the option of arbitration after 30 days following.