Coal to Solar

Tanner Lee Swiger graduated from high school in Wayne County, West Virginia this spring. His father and grandfather both worked in West Virginia’s coal industry. But not Swiger, or any of his high school classmates.
Nobody from his graduating class is working in coal, says Swiger. “[They’re] honestly working in fast food, or not working at all.”
Not Swiger. He has a job installing rooftop solar panels. He says his family is delighted with it.
"They’re excited that I’m actually doing something different,” says Swiger. “A lot of people ain’t doing this in West Virginia, a lot of people are against it actually. A lot of people want to go back to coal.
“I ain’t against it, I love solar. It’s way better than coal, I think.”

After generations working in coal, young West Virginians are finding jobs in solar