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Pittsburgh’s playbook is being used as the standard to revitalize the American economy

PITTSBURGH — One of President Joe Biden’s campaign promises was to create new, high-paying jobs focused on green energy.

According to the White House, the administration has already started to fulfill that promise by allocating $260 million for mine reclamation.

On Wednesday, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm told Channel 11 the U.S. government is committed to transforming communities that were reliant on fossil fuels for their economies.

”The bottom line is, we are an administration that has put together a group of teams to see what we can do to ensure we help communities that have been left behind,” said Granholm.

Granholm ensured Channel 11 this is just the beginning of a long-term plan to refocus economies in coal country.

“There is going to be a lot more where this came from, especially when it comes to jobs,” said Granholm.

One of the job sectors Granholm outlined Wednesday is mining reclamation.

The process is extensive, but is beneficial to the environment and surrounding communities.

Companies are hired to turn former surface mines and mined lands to their former states.

According to the Department of the Interior, those lands can be used for open space, wildlife habitat, agriculture, or residential and commercial development.

One site currently going through the process of reclamation is in Kermit, West Virginia, a small town located in Mingo County along the Tug Fork River.

According to Granholm, the mine transformation is just one of a dozen sites creating high-paying jobs while investing in local communities.

”I know what is it like to look into the eyes of people who’ve had the rug pulled out from under them through no fault of their own. So, I’m excited about his initiative that will help to give jobs and real opportunity to these communities,” said Granholm.

One of the major talking points in the 2020 presidential election focused on the return of the coal industry.

Former President Donald Trump promised to bring back the industry, even though plants have been shutting down and are not being replaced.

”Let’s be honest about where the market is heading,” said Granholm.

”Pittsburgh is a classic example of how you can do this as a community, right. When steel and everybody looks to Pittsburgh, because you had a whole strategy for how a community can diversify. So, I want to take the Pittsburgh playbook and use it on the rest of these communities to say, ‘this can be done if we can do it in Pittsburgh,’” said Granholm.

Granholm takes over the Department of Energy during a challenging period.

As the country grapples with a financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, government agencies are trying to think of innovative ways to create jobs.

”Bringing in jobs that are consistent with the skill set and the advantages, as well as the geographic location and industrial background to a community is exciting, because you get to put resources behind it and empower communities to diversify,” said Granholm.

Pittsburgh has been a leader in the U.S. diversifying its economy.

One of the major focuses of Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration has been to attract businesses in the technology sector, as well as companies that are invested in the green energy movement, which has been recognized by the Biden administration.

”This is an opportunity for us. We should be making the products that respond to the demand for clean energy in the United States and exporting them. The batteries that are being researched at Carnegie Mellon are a part of that work. We should be making those products in this country and stamping it ‘Made In America’ then exporting it,” said Granholm.

Granholm also understands there is still a misconception when it comes to President Biden’s stance on fracking in Pennsylvania.

Recently, the Biden administration moved forward with halting fracking on federal lands, which are sparse in the Ohio Valley, ”He’s (President Biden) has made it clear that he is not going to ban fracking. He has taken a pause on federal lands, but he is not banning private fracking at all,” said Granholm.

Finally, Granholm wants Pennsylvanians to know that climate change is a real threat, impacting not only our community but our planet.

She also says the Biden administration is dedicated to spend money to prevent and reverse the impacts of fossil fuels by investing in all communities.

“Let’s put people to work in America making these products. There is a $23 trillion global market for these products. Let’s build them in America, and use them in America, and export them and put our people to work.” said Granholm.