Utility Dive: Granholm: American Jobs Plan will prioritize communities struggling with loss of coal, oil and gas jobs

O’Melveny environmental counsel John Rousakis spoke with Utility Dive about the Biden administration’s American Jobs Plan, which aims to boost infrastructure and clean energy spending while maintaining focus on communities affected by the fossil fuel industry’s downturn. 

While a laudable effort, Rousakis cautioned that it won’t be easy to develop targeted employment opportunities in regions once known as powerhouses of US coal, oil, and natural gas. New, cleaner fuel substitutes may be better suited to other regions of the US. Nevertheless, he remains confident that the federal government is capable of reaching its goal of diverting 40% of the Plan’s economic benefits to hard-hit energy communities with the help of job target and training mandates.

Utility Dive subscribers can read the full interview here.