Sec. 202. Energy and economic transition impact studies
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The Secretary of Energy shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy agrees to conduct studies on matters concerning the potential impacts of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions on workers and communities dependent on employment related to fossil fuels as follows: Not later than 1 year after the date of entry into such agreement, the Academy shall complete a study focused on communities that have experienced an energy-related transition within the previous 10 years, including communities that were dependent on coal, and submit to Congress and the Secretary of Energy a report on the results of such study.
Not later than 3 years after the date of entry into such agreement, the Academy shall complete a study focused on communities and industries not covered in the study under paragraph
(1)that are likely to experience an energy-related transition should the United States achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and submit to Congress and the Secretary of Energy a report on the results of such study. The Secretary of Energy shall seek to enter into the agreement described in subsection
(a)not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The study and report under paragraph
(1)of subsection (a), with respect to communities described in such paragraph, and the study and report under paragraph
(2)of subsection (a), with respect to communities described in such paragraph, shall— assess current and foreseeable trends in worker and community disruptions associated with the United States transition to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, and the effects of such trends on the social, economic, and other requirements of the United States; identify types of occupations related to fossil fuels that may be impacted by the United States transition to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, including— occupations involved with— the extraction of fossil fuels; the refinement of fossil fuels; the generation of electricity from fossil fuels; the production of energy-intensive industrial products; the manufacture of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles that utilize an internal combustion engine and component parts for such vehicles; and the construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure to deliver fossil fuels for domestic use; and for each type of occupation identified under subparagraph (A), estimates of— the number of employees serving in each type of occupation; the locations of employees for each type of occupation; the average wages and benefits of employees for each type of occupation; and the average age of employees for each type of occupation, including an estimate of the number of employees 55 years of age or older; assess impacts and potential impacts associated with the United States transition to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions on workers in the types of occupations identified under paragraph (2); identify skills, including professional certifications, typically associated with each type of occupation identified under paragraph
(2)and potential occupations utilizing the same or similar skills in industries not impacted by the United States transition to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, including an estimate of average wages and benefits for each such potential occupation; identify the ages and locations of, and existing debt burdens, including debt burdens resulting from Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service loans, related to existing fossil fuel-powered electricity generating units; identify municipal and county governments that derive— more than 25 percent of locally generated tax revenue or employment within the jurisdiction of the government from industries employing workers in types of occupations identified under paragraph (2); and more than 50 percent of locally generated tax revenue or employment within that jurisdiction from such industries; assess the status and condition of communities already affected by the transition to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, that have lost significant locally generated tax revenue or employment within the past 10 years; assess economic development and alternative employment opportunities in communities identified in paragraphs
(6)and (7), including an assessment of existing educational, workforce development, and infrastructure assets, including transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure, near identified communities; identify commonly occurring municipal and county government services and programs funded by locally generated tax revenues in communities identified in paragraphs
(6)and (7), including— education; public safety, including police and fire departments; health care; infrastructure; and workforce development; and identify potential strategies, consistent with achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, to avoid future disruptions among businesses and workers, including strategies to reskill workers to fill jobs in emerging and growing industries. The studies and reports under subsection
(a)shall identify actions that could be taken regarding worker and community transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, including— compensation packages for employees in types of occupations identified under subsection (c)(2), including— transition adjustment assistance, potentially including support for wages, pension, health care, and other benefits; and enabling early retirement for such employees over the age of 55; training and further education for employees in occupations identified under subsection (c)(2), potentially including job placement and relocation assistance; economic development and diversification of communities identified under paragraphs
(6)and
(7)of subsection (c), including employment and development opportunities associated with environmental remediation; financial assistance packages for communities identified in paragraphs
(6)and
(7)of subsection
(c)to provide temporary replacement of lost locally generated tax revenue; and recommendations for remedying deficiencies of existing programs and activities identified in subsection (c), which may include recommendations for Federal legislation and Executive action. There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.