- Details
Metinvest broke ground on a new project August 3 near Ellamore, in Randolph County. Roaring Creek Coal Company, LLC will start operations during January 2013 and will add another 1.6 million tons of high quality coking coal to Metinvest’s capacity. Once completed, the mine complex will produce 1.6 million tons of high quality metallurgical coal per year, create 258 high paying jobs, and generate more than $11 million in severance and excise tax revenue annually.
The project is a $150 million investment in the economy of northeast West Virginia by Metinvest and United Coal Company.
“We are very pleased that this groundbreaking has occurred less than one month following the grand opening of our Affinity Mine,” states Michael Zervos, President of United Coal Company - Metinvest’s overseas coal subsidiary. “These projects are the foundation of Metinvest’s growth strategy for UCC- by 2014 our operations will produce more than eight million tons of processed coal per year, of which approximately 85 percent will be high quality metallurgical coal. Nearly five million tons will be produced annually in West Virginia.”
- Details
- Details
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has vetoed the Redistricting Plan passed by the Legislature after it was determined the bill contained several technical errors. Gov. Tomblin has called a special session to correct the legislation starting Thursday, August, 18.
- Details
Mingo County residents received an early preview of the new $37 million Mingo Central High School during a ribbon cutting ceremony August 12.
The school, will serve more than 800 students. Following the ceremony featuring several state and local leaders, student ambassadors provided tours of the state-of-the-art classrooms. The rooms feature smart boards, computer and science labs, and even art facilities.
- Details
The West Virginia Coal Forum hosted a meeting August 10 in Charleston to bring attention and show support for HR 2018, a bill that would bring an end to the EPA’s war against Appalachian coal.
Speakers representing labor, industry, government and others shared their concerns about the EPA’s current anti-coal agenda, including an on-going de facto moratorium of new mining permits in West Virginia, as well as new air quality rules that threaten tens of thousands of jobs in the region.
Several speakers during Wednesday’s event urged the passage of a bill, which would put controls on the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Details
CHARLESTON – Gary White, of International Resource Partners, a subsidiary of James River Coal Company, was re-elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association for the coming year.
It is White’s second term as chairman. White’s election came at the Association’s 52nd Annual meeting held earlier this month at the Greenbrier Resort.
Joining White as Association officers are:
- 1st Vice-Chairman--Kevin Crutchfield (Alpha Natural Resources)
- 2nd Vice-Chairman--Jim Laurita (MEPCO)
- Secretary---John Snider (Arch Coal)
- Treasurer---Andrew Jordon (Pritchard Mining)
- Asst. Treasurer---Chuck Ebetino(Patriot Coal)
- Associate Division Chairman---Tim Zeli (Nelson Brothers)
- Details
Most of America’s metropolitan areas saw personal incomes rise last year, with the biggest increases coming in towns where the military thrives and oil and other mining interests dominate the private sector, according to a new government report.
But the gains in those towns may be only temporary, since the military is facing substantial cuts and the mining industry is grappling with new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis released a report this week that found that personal incomes increased in 362 of 366 metropolitan statistical areas in 2010, rising overall by 2.9 percent after falling 1.9 percent the previous year.
- Details
In a new study, Roy Spencer, Ph.D -- a prestigious former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) climatologist who currently works at the University of Alabama -- has examineddata between 2001 and 2011 gathered by the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer sensor housed aboard NASA's Aqua satellite.
The study was published [PDF] in the peer-reviewed journal Remote Sensing.
The data reveals yet another thorough analysis of atmospheric heat dissipation -- an important factor in heating or cooling. And like past studies, it found that the Earth's atmosphere shed heat at a much faster rate than what's predicted in widely used global warming models.
- Details
During the special session, lawmakers passed a bill giving coal-producing counties more money from the coal severance tax.
HAMLIN -- Lincoln County leaders want to spend some of the extra money from the coal severance tax on extending water and sewer lines. They believe that could attract more business to the county, which would create more jobs. That's good news for Melissa Holstein, of Alkol. She wants better water and a better job.
“That way we could go get jobs outside home health care and get a better paying job that would bring more money into the family to take care of the children,” said Holstein.
“People wouldn't have to drive to Southridge, Madison, and Huntington for work,” said Latisha Dotson, of Woodville.
County commissioner Thomas Ramey said the county has started the process of putting sewer lines in the Alum Creek area of the county. With Southridge nearby, many believe the Alum Creek area is ready for growth.
“Economic development is coming our way. We have to have the infrastructure in place in order to accommodate that. That's our biggest barrier,” said Larry Stutler, executive director of the Lincoln Economic Development Authority.
More businesses mean more tax revenue for the county, and more tax revenue could mean more money for county departments and services, like the library.
“It would come in handy with the books, children's books, and the story hour we have in the summer time,” said Alma Cummings, a librarian at the Hamlin-Lincoln County Public Library.
Under the legislation, Lincoln County would get an additional $150,000 in coal severance money. Each year that would increase. After five years it would max out at $500,000.
Stutler said he is talking with three companies who are taking a serious look at setting up shop in Lincoln County. While not giving specific details, he did say the companies are located in and outside West Virginia.
Join Friends of Coal
Be part of West Virginia's coal industry future. Together, we can continue building a stronger, more prosperous Mountain State by supporting our miners and communities.
West Virginia Coal Association
The West Virginia Coal Association has been the voice of the coal industry for over 100 years, advocating for safe, responsible mining practices and supporting the communities that depend on coal.
Join the FOC
Become a Friend of Coal and download our app to stay connected and support the industry.
