> If my opinions applied to power production, I'd be proud to help decom a coal plant and install a brand spanking new nuclear or solar plant
Would you feel the same way if you went from making $100k /year to $50k/year doing this? That's part of the problem. You have to be okay taking a substantial paycut, or losing your job entirely, when you decomm the previous system. Not that same as doing so when you're a software engineer.
Single income in your family and having to start out from scratch? Of course people are going to cling to their chance at a middle class life by their fingernails in a fossil industry job.
On one hand, I understand taking pride in your work. I view what I do as a craft, and I take pride in being good at what I do.
On the other hand, there's nothing better than taking a weak and hobbled system out back and finishing it off.
If my opinions applied to power production, I'd be proud to help decom a coal plant and install a brand spanking new nuclear or solar plant.