70 Percent of Americans Reject Cap-and-Trade

A new national survey commissioned by the Institute for Energy Research found that 70 percent of Americans oppose new energy taxes that will drive up domestic energy costs even further.  The survey also finds that the same percentage do not believe such a tax would have a discernible effect on global warming.

“The American people are smarter than the political class in Washington think,” said IER president Thomas Pyle.  “There is no interest in pushing through a radical agenda in the name of global warming and there is no interest on the part of consumers to pay more at the pump for a gallon of gasoline.”

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, voted last month for an amendment by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that would have blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases. The amendment failed on a 53-47 vote, but the senators who voted to restrain the EPA apparently have strong public opinion on their side.

Friends of Coal Outreach Effort Continues

Representatives of the West Virginia Coal Association and the Friends of Coal will be busy the next few months.  Continuing our outreach efforts around the state, the Friends of Coal has already scheduled the following events:

∙ (July 17) The Friends of Coal Auto Fair in Beckley and the Mark Plants’ Football Camp in Charleston.

∙ (August 13-20) We are finalizing our participation schedule for this year’s State Fair of West Virginia in Lewisburg.

If you would like to schedule a representative of the Friends of Coal or the West Virginia Coal Association for your event, please contact us at 304.342.4153. Our schedules are filling fast and we very much want to meet with your group to provide an accurate portrait of our state’s coal industry.

Friends of Coal Auto Fair

The 7th Annual Friends of Coal Auto Fair is set for July 16 – 18 at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex in Beckley, WV.  Friday, July 16 will begin the Fair with the Cruise-In to uptown Beckley for the Renaissance Car Show and live entertainment by former American Idol contestant and Beckley native, Robbie Carrico. 

Saturday will have the Live in Concert by The Charlie Daniels Band and Taylor Made, with special appearances by The Gold Knights Army Parachute Team and FOC spokesmen Coach Nehlen, Coach Pruett and Bass Master Jeremy Starks.  Tickets ($15.00 advance & $20.00 day of show) for the Concert will go on sale May 1st at select WV & VA Marquee Cinemas and the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA.  

Special Trip for Association Members - Sept. 24-26

Time is of the essence as the reserved rooms and air travel arrangements must be committed in the next couple of weeks.  Please go to: www.nationaltravel.com for complete information.

Senator Byrd to be Laid to Rest

A memorial service this morning at the State Capitol gave the State and Nation’s final farewell to United States Senator Robert C. Byrd.  Senator Byrd died early this week in a northern Virginia hospital and was the longest serving Senator in the history of the country.  President Obama and Vice President Biden attended and participated in the service.  Senator Byrd laid in repose in the United States Senate Chamber on Thursday before being flown to Charleston on a West Virginia Air National Guard C-130.  Upon arrival in Charleston, his body was transported from the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse in downtown Charleston by a horse-drawn caisson to the State Capitol where the public paid their respects throughout the night. Senator Byrd will be buried in a northern Virginia cemetery, beside his wife, Erma.