“Black Jobs” in Coal Mining Could be Hit by EPA Regulations
Posted on 23. Jun, 2010 by keith in Environmental Impact
One of the most talked about benefits of green power programs is the creation of “green jobs”; new work opportunities that have the added benefit of serving eco consciousness. So, what kind of job does a person hold when they work for power production that isn’t green? A “black job” is the nomenclature of which has more than a few ominous overtones. Black jobs get their name because they represent a blight on the environment, and also because they often feature an aspect of work that most green jobs don’t: grit, grime and a work setting that’s characterized by mysterious dusts and cantankerous odors, such as you might find in a coal mining operation.
Yet, as humanly un-enjoyable and environmentally criticized as black jobs may be, there are still a large number of Americans that are as proud to hold their black jobs as other Americans are to hold their green jobs. Currently, that pride seem to be increasing as rumors that soon to be government regulations will target the coal industry based on its contribution to greenhouse production that results in negative climate change. The greatest legislative threat to coal related jobs is cap and trade legislation, which places caps in emissions but allows high emissions companies to trade for more emissions credits with companies that have emissions credits to spare.
Given the high emissions of the coal industry, coal companies’ trading to achieve legal emissions status seems poised to result in a cutting of coal jobs, which is a sore point with proponents of the coal industry. There is, however, a bright spot for those who wish to retain their coal jobs: electric cars run on coal, and according to experts’ predictions, half of U.S. automobiles will be electric in 10 years. A black job supporting green technology; for the coal industry, such irony is music to the ears.
