According to information released by the West Virginia Division of Commerce in February, West Virginia coal exports grew by 40 percent last year, increasing from $5.3 billion in 2011 to $7.4 billion in 2012.  West Virginia coal accounted for 49 percent of U.S. coal exports in 2012. 

The West Virginia Coal Forum – an organization representing both labor and management in the coal industry – will host a meeting to discuss the significance of coal exports to our state and national economies at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston.   
A variety of state experts and policy leaders will speak at the event, to include:

• Governor Earl Ray Tomblin
• Ernie Thrasher, CEO of Xcoal Energy & Resources
• Jeff Herholdt, Director of the WV Division of Energy
• Michael Zervos, CEO, United Coal
• Bill Raney, President of the WV Coal Association
• Chris Hamilton, Vice-President of the WV Coal Association
• Fred Tucker, UMWA (retired), Co-Chair WV Coal Forum

Seating is limited and reservations are required.  To make a reservation please email Joel L. Watts at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Stakeholders in West Virginia’s mining economy – industry leaders, mining personnel, association representatives, local legislators and policy leaders – are encouraged to attend. 
For additional information, contact the West Virginia Coal Forum at (304) 957-2306, or visit the organization’s website at www.wvcoalforum.org.