The shuttered coal plant, which once supported well-paid jobs – becomes a liability in many communities, sitting vacant and blighted. It can be turned into a major asset.
Those locations were chosen for access to transit, skilled workforce, stable surrounding communities, and proximity to dense markets. Many of these advantages are still in place. Today, the connections to the grid add new value.
A community can envision many uses. The federal government could use these sites to locate military and federal reservations. Under rapidly changing climate conditions, we need far better state and local oversight of weather, the grid, water, fire, and flood response. Shuttered coal plant locations are well situated for facilities housing such activities. Communities can envision these uses and work with local officials on their proposals.