Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 4/5/21

Biden’s infrastructure focus on clean energy has also raised concerns over job security in rural America, POLITICO’s Rebecca Rainey and Eric Wolff report.

Not so fast: Labor groups and congressional Republicans are warning of the harm that removing coal mines and fossil fuel power plants could have on rural communities. While the push to reduce emissions would increase the demand for construction and production of clean energy sources like solar, wind and battery projects, those positions are not only temporary but may not be a direct transfer for workers already in other sectors, like mining.

Money best spent? Biden also plans to have the infrastructure plan boost productivity and reduce inequality, which could help long-neglected communities including in deeply red rural areas, Pro’s Victoria Guida reports. But some critics say money would be better spent on making it easier for people to move to more viable regions rather than trying to help economically depressed sectors.

In Biden’s favor , the long-term timeline of his plan means interruptions will not be as abrupt and even the process of decarbonizing the economy (or eliminating the kind of steady, fixed-location jobs that come with coal mines or fossil fuel power plants) can take decades, making the transition smoother for workers.