((PKG))  COAL TRANSITION IN COLORADO    
((Banner:  Seeking a Just Transition)) 
((Reporter/Camera:  Steve Baragona)) 
((Map:  Craig, Colorado)) 
 
((K.C. Becker, Speaker, Colorado House of Representatives)) 
I think if we don't deal with climate change, we are going to be 
wrecking the economy.   
I'm Casey Becker.  I'm the Speaker of the House in Colorado. 
((K.C. Becker, Speaker, Colorado House of Representatives))  
Colorado, I think, is uniquely impacted by climate change.  We're 
seeing those impacts across the state.  Our economy depends on 
the things that are currently being affected by climate, whether 
that's tourism or agriculture, from our snowpack to, you know, all 
the communities that are living in fire-prone areas. 
((Map Graphic w/ banner, NATS under:  Most Coloradans 
accept that humans are causing climate change))  
((Popup Banner:   
Colorado passed a law aiming to cut state greenhouse gas 
emissions in half by 2030. 
Coal-fired power plants are among the state’s biggest emitters)) 
((Matt Kincheloe, Craig Station Electrician)) 
That's the one that scares me the most.  If there's no power plant 
here to have, what would I do for a living?  What would I do to 
contribute to my family and to help maintain the lifestyle that we 
have, and what's going to happen to my community?  My little 
town here in Craig, Colorado, is at risk. 
((Rich Meisinger, IBEW Union Official))  
When you close those power plants down, not only are the people 
that work at the power plants going to lose their jobs, but there's a 
domino effect after that.  So, stores, restaurants, car dealerships, 
everything in those areas will cease to exist. 
((K.C. Becker, Speaker, Colorado House of Representatives))  
We know that there are going to be coal plant closures.  We know 
this is happening.  Let's think very intentionally and proactively 
about those communities.  We created the Office of Just 
Transition.  So, that office is tasked with figuring out how do we 
deal with the workers who are going to be impacted. 
((NATS)) 
((Popup Banner:  
Colorado’s Office of Just Transition aims to aid community 
economic development)) 
((Rich Meisinger, IBEW Union Official))  
If somebody is 40 years old and they've worked in a power plant, 
they still have a skill, right?  And so, maybe that skill goes to 
working on electric motors in windmills, in battery powered cars, 
right, which is our future.  And so, I think with little training, we 
could probably find a transition plan for them. 
((Matt Kincheloe, Craig Station Electrician))  
I think, in the base, it sounds like a good idea.  That all being said, 
it didn't talk about funding.  That was one thing I noticed is, where 
are we going to get the money at for that?  Do I have to move?  
Do I have to learn a different trade?  The re-education bill, well, 
what kind? 
((Rich Meisinger, IBEW Union Official)) 
I think they would rather see me out there fighting really hard to 
keep the power plants open.  And frankly, if I was in their shoes, I 
would be wanting to do the same thing.  But knowing what I know, 
that's a battle we aren't going to win.  So, I want to find a battle we 
can win that helps our members out. 
((NATS)) 
((K.C. Becker, Speaker, Colorado House of Representatives)) 
I hope that this is a good model for other states to know that you 
can address climate change, be proactive about workers and give 
workers, who might be nervous about this whole change, some 
sense that the state's going to be there.  I think states are going to 
have to deal with climate change, regardless.  And then, they're 
going to have to deal with worker transitions, regardless.  I'm 
really excited to see how it works or, you know, if it works. 
((NATS))