Energy Communities Focus

For its Initial Report to the President in 2021 , the Energy Communities IWG conducted a data analysis to identify the 25 priority regions in the country with the densest coal employment and those that suffered the most significant loss of coal mines and coal power plants over the previous 15 years.

These communities were identified as needing immediate federal engagement and economic investment, therefore this is where the Energy Communities IWG has focused its efforts. Priority communities span across the country, including Appalachia, the Illinois Coal Basin, the Four Corners region, the Northern Rocky Mountain region, the Mid-Continental Gulf Coast and Alaska. The Energy Communities IWG launched seven regional Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in Wyoming, the Four Corners region, the Illinois Coal Basin, Eastern Kentucky, Appalachian Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

While prioritizing the immediate needs of coal mining and power plant communities, the Energy Communities IWG is also coordinating, identifying and delivering federal resources — and encouraging private sector investments — in all energy communities, fenceline communities and Tribal communities.

Rank	Bureau of Labor Statistics Area Name
1	Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area
2	East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area
3	Wheeling, West Virginia-Ohio
4	Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area
5	Alaska nonmetropolitan area
6	West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area
7	Bremerton-Silverdale, Washington
8	Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area
9	Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area
10	Arizona nonmetropolitan area
11	Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area
12	South Illinois nonmetropolitan area
13	Central Utah nonmetropolitan area
14	Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area
15	California-Lexington Park, Maryland
16	Farmington, New Mexico
17	Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area
18	West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area
19	Greeley, Colorado
20	College Station-Bryan, Texas
21	Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area
22	Grand Junction, Colorado
23	Beckley, West Virginia
24	Charleston, West Virginia
25*	Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area

* Added for geographic diversity.
The top 25 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) areas associated with key coal occupations.
Ranking is shown in order of percentage of total direct coal jobs relative to all employees for each BLS area.

The Energy Communities IWG will conduct further analysis to identify additional energy communities and evaluate federal progress toward spurring economic revitalization. Factors to be considered include:

Employment data, including data from sectors providing support services to traditional energy sectors and revenue data from energy communities’ state and local governments.

Economic development and diversification pathways, including an inventory of local assets available for economic development, an infrastructure needs analysis, and an assessment of the training needs of displaced workers.