A double positive from Poland as they begin retraining coal miners to work in wind farms
It means more Wind capacity and jobs too!
One of the (incorrect) narratives pushed to oppose climate action is to float the spectre of job losses in some nebulous way, as if mitigating climate change is only a cost. This ignores the costs of inaction, which dwarf the cost of action but also misses that the new clean economy we’re moving towards is one of opportunity too. This story encapsulates this!
Polish coal miners have begun training in operating and servicing wind turbines as part of a programme to support workers leaving the mining sector. Poland produces around 70% of its electricity from coal – the highest figure in the EU – but has plans to replace that share with renewables and nuclear over the next two decades. The energy transition has, however, caused concern among miners and their unions over what the future holds for them. The two-week training – initiated and funded by EDF Renewables Polska, the biggest wind energy producer in Poland – is free for miners. The company hopes to help at least dozens of them move into new jobs.
What I like about this is the hits two positive notes - one is that there is a transition away from coal to wind going on and second is that, far from this transition leaving people behind - there is funding to retrain people for the new clan economy. This kind of news is why ‘Green New Deal’ movements are so key - they tie together the need to combat climate chaos with the opportunities in that transition. There’s buzzing movements in there areas in the US, the EU and the UK.
(Image from source)
PS. My last wind powwered story is here!