Hilary Clinton Unveils $30 Billion Plan to Improve Coal Country

Hilary Clinton has announced her $30 billion plan to help coal communities as the country moves toward clean energy.

The Democratic presidential candidate wrote in an op-ed that was published in the Charleston Gazette-Mail via CBS News and the Chicago Tribune:

"The hard-working Americans who mine, move and generate power from coal put their own health and safety as risk to keep our factories running and deliver the affordable and reliable energy we take for granted. But today we are in the midst of a global energy transition...The 20th century energy system is not coming back -- because of the shale boom, because of low-cost renewable energy, and because of the growing imperative to combat climate change. But I believe that we can forge a 21st century energy future for the United States that provides a clean and secure engine for economic growth -- without leaving out or leaving behind our coal communities."

According to the campaign, over the past decade, then consumption of coal within the United States has declined by 25 percent. Now, only about one third of power production relies on coal. Due to this move away from coal, the campaign aims to aid retirees of the coal industry.

The campaign added, "[Clean energy] will create new jobs and industries, deliver important health benefits, and reduce carbon pollution. But we can't ignore the impact this transition is already having on mining communities, or the threat it poses to the healthcare and retirement security of coalfield workers and their families."

The campaign will provide benefits and assistance to the retirees and grants to encourage private enterprises to invest in these coal communities. It will also improve the communities' infrastructure as well as increase federal resources.

The plan will start off by ensuring that retirees get their benefits. In regards to infrastructure, the plan is to reshape coal communities by adding new structures and systems, ranging from airports to bridges that can ""connects workers to new jobs and companies to new markets." These new jobs will also raise money to help balance out lost revenue and pay for schools until more businesses start to develop and provide tax revenue.