By Stacey Baxter

Rural Americans are some of the most impacted residents in the country as it relates to the lack of broadband access and deployment. This is particularly true for the unique challenges felt by coal-impacted communities in the face of green energy initiatives. Thankfully, there is help with the Just Transition Fund.

As we learn more about the devastating effects of climate change on the ecosystem and future generations, communities across the globe have attempted to mitigate their carbon footprint and move towards sustainable energy options. While industries work on President Biden’s goal for a net zero emissions economy by 2050, necessary environmental changes, such as shifting to natural gas from coal or oil, have decreased carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50-60 percent, comparatively. The US Energy Information Administration reported that in 2020, the number of producing coal mines fell to its lowest number since 2008, while the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis estimates that nearly 40% of the remaining coal-fire capacity is set to close by the end of 2030. While this is great news for our ecosystem and combating the horrific effects of climate change, there are negative ramifications for communities that have historically survived off coal mining industries.

For rural communities in the United States, cutting back or eliminating coal mining industries has had catastrophic consequences on their local economies. Wyoming and Appalachia produce the majority of the nation’s coal and have undoubtedly been hit the hardest by the energy industry’s shift away from coal mining. Without this long standing cornerstone of the economy, individuals in these areas are forced to look for work in other sectors. Although the US Bureau of Labor Statistics placed technology adjacent jobs as almost half of the fastest growing occupations, these rural areas unfortunately rank lowest in broadband access, compared to national averages, leaving rural residents out of this ever-growing workforce. Approximately 22 percent of Americans in rural areas lack fixed coverage broadband compared to 1.5 percent of Americans in urban areas. In fact, Montana and West Virginia rank in the ten worst states for internet access based on coverage, speed, and price. Without access to broadband, devices, and digital skills, thousands of Americans are at a major disadvantage in finding employment or advancing their careers, and this is particularly disastrous for these rural communities that once depended on a coal economy.

Fortunately, the Just Transition Fund is here to help. 

Under the Obama Administration, the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and  Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative was created in order to invest federal resources into the economy and workforce for communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal economy. Out of the POWER Initiative, the Just Transition Fund emerged as the only national fund solely dedicated to coal community transition and is still the only organization solely focused on this issue and positioned to find, connect, and scale locally led initiatives.

The Just Transition Fund (JTF) utilizes a two-faceted approach to help rural coal-impacted communities increase their broadband access:

1. JTF provides rolling, rapid-response grants, up to $100,000 and for a variety of purposes, such as grant support that can go towards hiring grant writers, conducting needs analysis, etc. 

2. JTF provides technical assistance to help develop competitive federal applications, which can include assistance identifying which federal program is a good fit for your project or feedback from a grant reviewer on draft applications before submission.

The Just Transition Fund’s guiding principles allow for communities to receive the support they need while holding onto their autonomy through inclusive and respectful collaborations. They are focused on helping coal-impacted communities secure federal investments in order to scale local economic solutions, while also helping local leaders launch community-driven planning processes that engage all affected members of the community, especially those who have been historically marginalized. With a short application process and quick turnaround for grant decisions, the Just Transition Fund may be your community’s key to unlocking untapped funding opportunities for broadband access and deployment.

Half a dozen of Next Century Cities’ members are currently eligible to receive support from JTF. The following municipalities meet the coal-impacted county requirements and are already positioned to receive support from JTF:  

• Riverside County, CA

• Larimer County, CO

• Martin County, FL

• Letcher County, KY

• Montgomery County, MD

• Cuyahoga County, OH

If you would like to be connected to JTF or want more information on how they can benefit your community’s work towards broadband access and deployment, please contact Stacey Baxter at stacey@nextcenturycities.org