For generations, coal communities have helped power Alabama and our nation. Alabama families built their lives around these jobs, and entire rural economies grew because of them. But today, even as the energy landscape evolves, those same areas still carry the economic burden of that legacy.
That’s why I sponsored Senate Bill 155, the Renewing Coal-Impacted Communities Act, to make sure communities like ours in Coal Country are not left behind.
SB155 is built on a simple principle: when Alabama receives revenue from coal produced on federal lands, those dollars should go back to the hardworking people and communities that made that production possible.
This legislation creates a dedicated fund to reinvest those dollars directly into coal-impacted areas where mining has historically driven jobs, tax revenue and local growth—and where economic transitions can hit the hardest.
Counties like Fayette, Walker, Jefferson and Tuscaloosa will now benefit from a targeted grant program focused on workforce development, infrastructure and economic diversification. That means job-training programs to prepare workers for the next generation of industries, improvements to roads, utilities and public services, and investments in projects that make areas like ours more competitive and attractive to new businesses.
The bill takes a responsible approach to funding. A portion of federal coal lease revenues will continue to support statewide priorities, including the General Fund and critical infrastructure like the Port of Mobile, which plays a key role in Alabama’s energy economy. But the majority of remaining funds will be directed where they are needed most—back into the communities that generated that revenue in the first place.
This is a reinvestment in the hardworking people who helped fuel our economy for generations. That’s fair. That’s accountability. And that’s good policy.
Economic transitions do not happen overnight, and places that have depended on coal for decades cannot simply flip a switch. They need tools, resources and time to adapt and grow.
That’s why SB155 also creates an advisory committee made up of representatives from coal-impacted areas to help guide how funds are distributed. The people closest to the challenges are often the closest to the solutions.
Like me, Representative Bryan Brinyark, R-Samantha, the House sponsor of the bill, grew up in Coal Country and wants to see this region have the resources it deserves. We have worked closely together to fight for West Alabama and the people we represent, and I’m grateful for his work championing this legislation through the House.
At its core, this legislation makes it clear: we have not forgotten you, we are not going to leave you behind, and we will invest in your future.
Alabama’s strength has always come from its people and its regions working together. When one part of our state struggles, we all feel it. And when we invest wisely in these communities, we all benefit.
SB155 is a step toward a stronger, more resilient Alabama—one that remembers where we came from while preparing for where we are going. And that’s something every Alabamian can be proud of.
