Biden-Harris Administration Announces New AmeriCorps Project to Spur Economic Growth and Job Creation in Energy Communities

New American Climate Corps Project Will Support Economic Development in Nine Energy Communities while Preparing Young People for Good-Paying Jobs; Recruitment Open Now

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the Biden-Harris Administration announced Energy Communities AmeriCorps, a new project that will engage 150 full-time AmeriCorps members serving with the VISTA program in advancing locally designed economic development, workforce readiness, and environmental remediation plans in energy communities as they gain skills and experience for good paying clean energy and climate resilience jobs.

Building on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to support coal communities, this innovative public-private partnership will invest nearly $8 million from federal agencies and philanthropic sources to help ensure a more just and prosperous future for the men and women who fueled our nation’s growth.

This new program is part of President Biden’s landmark American Climate Corps – a groundbreaking initiative modeled after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps that will put a new, diverse generation of young Americans to work fighting the impacts of climate change today while gaining the skills they need to join the growing clean energy and climate-resilience workforce of tomorrow. Following the inaugural cohort’s swearing-in last month, AmeriCorps estimates more than 9,000 American Climate Corps members – nearly halfway to President Biden’s goal of 20,000 members in year one – are already serving across the country, going to work conserving and restoring our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies, advancing environmental justice and more.

AmeriCorps and the Energy Communities AmeriCorps project sponsor Conservation Legacy are recruiting now for positions starting in October in nine federally designated energy communities in Appalachian Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, Illinois Coal Basin, Four Corners region, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wyoming, Virginia, and Southeast Montana. More information and links to apply can be found on the American Climate Corps listing or stewardslegacy.org/ecap.

“Energy Communities AmeriCorps – like the Working Lands Climate Corps and AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps partnerships we launched this year – are examples of the kinds of creative partnerships we are building as part of the American Climate Corps that will mark a new era of youth-powered climate action in America,” said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. “I encourage anyone interested to visit the ClimateCorps.gov to apply for available opportunities.”

"Energy communities have powered this nation for generations -- and now, under President Biden's leadership, we are driving new investments to support their economic revitalization and create new, good-paying jobs that will restore former coal lands, strengthen American supply chains, and help transition to a clean energy economy,” said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “Central to these efforts are putting young people to work in these communities – and that’s exactly what this new Energy Communities AmeriCorps program will do. Through this American Climate Corps effort, we are positioning America’s next generation to tackle longstanding environmental challenges, advance environmental justice, and build America’s clean energy future.” 

AmeriCorps members serving with the VISTA program will serve on projects that build the sustainable capacity of nonprofits, public agencies, local economic development districts, and other organizations to support economic development, workforce readiness, and remediation of legacy pollution in energy communities. Serving through local host organizations, members will carry out activities such as conducting community needs assessments, organizing public meetings, grant writing, outreach on tax credits and other resources to support economic development, educating residents about public health and safety hazards associated with abandoned mine lands, increasing public awareness about training and employment opportunities, and more.

AmeriCorps developed the Energy Communities AmeriCorps project in partnership with the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (Energy Communities IWG), which serves as a hub for federal coordination and stakeholder engagement to spur economic revitalization, remediate environmental degradation and support energy workers in coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities across the country. The Energy Communities IWG has launched Rapid Response Teams to align federal resources in communities experiencing recent or imminent economic downturns from coal mine and power plant closures. AmeriCorps members will work closely with these Rapid Response Teams and local government, business, and nonprofit stakeholders in each energy community.

“This new public-private partnership is another important step to ensure that disadvantaged energy communities have resources that build capacity and further position these communities and energy workers for long-term economic success,” said Brian Anderson, Executive Director, Energy Communities IWG. “In coordination with our Rapid Response Teams, the AmeriCorps members will work directly with community leaders to identify the necessary resources to advance economic development and train workers for the jobs of the future.”

Energy Communities AmeriCorps will be funded through a unique multi-agency public private partnership with support from three members of the Energy Communities IWG - the US Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, and the Appalachian Regional Commission, with additional funding support from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“With unprecedented funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Department of the Interior is investing in communities that have long suffered the disproportionate and cumulative harms of environmental injustices,” said Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis. “With the new Energy Communities AmeriCorps, we are doubling down on these efforts, creating good-paying jobs and cleaning up environmental hazards.”

"The Energy Communities AmeriCorps Program is not just an opportunity for emerging leaders to experience and create tangible, lasting change in the communities they serve; it’s a chance to give back to the communities that literally fueled America’s progress for generations,” said Assistant US Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The US Economic Development Administration is proud to be a partner in this critically important work, and to help inspire the future climate leaders of America to make a difference.”

“I’m proud that the Biden-Harris Administration is making this investment in Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “These communities have long been critical economic drivers for our region and the entire country. This AmeriCorps program will increase workforce development and support these communities in creating vibrant economic futures.”

Consistent with the Administration’s goal of ensuring American Climate Corps opportunities are accessible to people of any socio-economic background, members will receive a living wage of $15.51 or more depending on their location and a comprehensive set of benefits including health care, childcare, Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (currently $7,395) or a cash award after service, student loan forbearance and interest repayment, relocation expenses, training and professional development, and non-competitive eligibility for federal service.

The project will be led by Conservation Legacy, a longstanding AmeriCorps partner with extensive experience working in coal communities. Over the past 22 years, Conservation Legacy has engaged more than 1,200 AmeriCorps members in supporting economic development and environmental revitalization in coal communities in Appalachia and the Intermountain West. These members have secured $41 million in grants and in-kind resources, recruited 100,000 volunteers, trained 16,000 community members in water quality monitoring, and improved 3.2 million acres of land.

“Conservation Legacy is excited about launching Energy Communities AmeriCorps,” said Amy Sovocool, CEO of Conservation Legacy. “Through this partnership, we are honored to involve AmeriCorps members in revitalizing communities that have significantly contributed to shaping our nation.”

"Transitioning quickly and equitably to a clean energy economy means leaving no communities behind. The Biden-Harris Administration's Energy Communities AmeriCorps program connects young climate leaders with the energy communities that have powered our growth for so long and shows them a cleaner and more prosperous economic future,” said Antha Williams, who leads the Environment program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Bloomberg Philanthropies is proud to support this initiative in our continued commitment to invest in our people, our communities, and our planet.”

Conservation Legacy will work with local host sites in each energy community to recruit and select VISTA members, prioritizing the recruitment of displaced energy workers or their family members. The members will live and serve in the community –helping coal communities attract and retain the talent they need to support their economic development goals.

AmeriCorps annually engages more than 14,000 members in conservation, clean energy, disaster response, community resilience, and other activities to address the climate crisis and build workforce pathways for careers in the growing clean energy economy. Individuals interested in learning more and applying should visit the American Climate Corps website or stewardslegacy.org/ecap.