Both U.S. presidential campaigns are focusing on the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, where energy plays a significant role. Pennsylvania is a major producer of natural gas and coal, but the future of these industries is shifting. Despite continued fracking in the western part of the state, fossil fuel jobs are declining. Polls show that Pennsylvanians support clean energy expansion. To address this, a new advocacy group called Union Energy has been launched by a coalition of trade unions, aiming to ensure a smooth transition to a fossil-fuel-free economy with quality union jobs.
While clean energy jobs are emerging, they have yet to fully replace fossil fuel jobs. Union Energy, a collaboration between the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Pennsylvania Building Trades, and the Climate Jobs National Resource Center, focuses on mobilizing union support for climate projects. The launch event highlighted the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy sources, with a particular emphasis on the role of unions in building out the workforce for the new industries.
Unions are playing a key role in the energy transition, not only by unionizing clean energy sectors but also by advocating for and supporting new projects that create unionized jobs. These efforts extend to training programs, such as the apprenticeship program by the United Mine Workers of America in Pennsylvania to remediate abandoned oil and gas wells. Through collaboration between labor and climate movements, Pennsylvania is envisioning a worker-centered approach to decarbonizing its economy.
Unions in Pennsylvania are spearheading the shift towards clean energy, fostering a future that prioritizes clean air, water, and sustainable economy while providing stable and well-paying jobs for workers. The collaboration between labor and climate movements signals a promising direction for the energy transition in the state.
