Can Country Roads Lead to Clean Power?

When Obama recently announced his Clean Power Plan, my first thought was, “Oh man, West Virginia is not going to be happy about this.”

While I was unfortunately not born in West Virginia, I did grow up there. I was shaped into the human being I am now in Almost Heaven. And while I have not lived there for over 10 years, and my parents moved to another state long ago, I still consider it home.

West Virginians are about the loveliest people you will ever meet. And we all have this intense pride about home. The mountains get in your blood. As proof, I offer up this video of Jennifer Garner who knows all sorts of stuff about WV:

That’s not unique to her. She’s not some sort of weird nerd. EVERYONE in WV is like this. Walk into a room anywhere in the world and sing under your breath, “Almost heaven…” and if there is a West Virginian in the room, they will spin around, lock eyes with you and sing back, “WEST VIRGINIA! BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS! SHENENDOAH RIVER!” Every time. And check your Facebook feed on June 20th every year. If you’re friends with a West Virginian, you are likely to see them posting pictures of the state along with “Happy Birthday, West Virginia!” and “Montani Semper Liberi!” Do you know anyone else that wishes their home state a happy birthday every year? “Happy Birthday, Arkansas!” No. No one cares. But I know dozens of West Virginians that celebrate WV’s date every year.

We are an extremely proud people.

The thing about West Virginia though, is that there isn’t much money flowing through the state. We’re actually one of the poorest states in the nation. What we do have is coal. And we’re fiercely loyal to our coal, even though it kills us, because mining coal is one of the few jobs around that you don’t need an education for, but pays enough for you to feed your family.

As I sit on LA’s 405 freeway like it’s a parking lot, watching all the fumes rise up into the air, listening to yet another story on NPR about how we’re in a historic drought, it’s hard not to imagine we’re a second away from Mother Earth just throwing up her hands and saying, “Enough of this shit, I’m outta here,” and drowning us all in piles of our own trash. So, clean energy sounds like a no brainer to me. Yes, absolutely let’s harness the power of the wind with those cool windmills  instead of entering the bowels of the earth to dig out chunks of ore that coat our lungs with dust until we choke and die. No problem, right?

Wrong. Because for many in West Virginia, coal is their livelihood.

I don’t believe that West Virginians (and anyone else in coal states) really wants to harm the environment. What they want are jobs, stability, and food on the table. What the mine owners want is a shit ton of money and cheap labor**. If the President and other environmentalists want Clean Power, they are going to have to pay more attention to the root of the ruckus, which is money (it always is, isn’t it)? These are the questions I have for those pushing the Clean Power Act along:

1. What support are you going to offer in the transition of one power source to another?
2. How are you going to support coal miners who lose their jobs?
3. How are you going to support young West Virginians* in their pursuit of an education?
4. How are you going to keep talented West Virginians* from leaving for more lucrative jobs in other states?
5. What training and support will you offer West Virginians* that would like to work in Clean Power, but need help making the transition?
6. How are you going to placate the mine owners and coal companies that have the means to slow the movement towards Clean Power?

The citizens of the state needs to see lots of money and support before they will support the Clean Power Act. Not the promise of support. Actual support. And while there might be politicians and outsiders that are willing to do this, you have to think of the culture in WV. We hate politicians and outsiders**. And we don’t trust the wealthy**. So, there’s that hurdle.

What I really hope doesn’t happen is that the Clean Power Act is passed on the backs of working families. I want clean power, I really do. I want it so bad, I almost don’t even care how it happens, but I can imagine that deals will be made where the only people who are hurt are miners who no longer have a job. And that hurts my little moonshine-soaked heart.

One of my biggest pet peeves about the nonprofit sector is the pace. Because it’s so difficult for us to get money, we lose out on all the benefits that come with wealth. Talented, smart staff members leave for bigger paychecks. Programs are delayed because of slow grant cycles. Policy debates drag on because we can’t afford to compete with big companies that court politicians. And on and on. It’s frustrating, but even more frustrating when you think about how all we’re trying to do is help make the world a better place. I feel the same way about West Virginia. We’re like one giant nonprofit organization. We’re awesome, we’re gorgeous, we’re pretty much the world’s best storytellers, we’re the home of pepperoni rolls and Mary Lou Retton! But we are constantly fighting the battle of the haves and the have nots.

I’m rooting for clean power. But I’m also rooting for you, West Virginia. And as soon as I start making Warren Buffet money, I’ll be on the first plane home to make it rain.

*The same questions go for other coal states, but I don’t care about them as much because MONTANI SEMPER LIBERI! AWHOOOOOOOO!

**This may be a sweeping generalization. #SorryNotSorry #EatTheRich #MontaniSemperLiberi