- Details
The West Virginia Coal Forum, an organization representing both coal mine labor and management in the state, has called on Governor Tomblin to use his executive powers to “forestall the closures” of six in-state coal-fired power plants.
“We respectfully encourage you to use the executive powers of your office to forestall these closures so we might consider all relevant household, economic and employment factors surrounding these industrial facilities,” wrote Chris Hamilton and Fred Tucker, co-chairmen of the Coal Forum, in their letter. “We ask that the short- and long-term net effects and the delivery of reliable and affordable household electricity also be examined.
“We have been told that little can be done at this point, or that the ‘train has left the station.’ As such, decisions made unilaterally by parent utilities cannot be reversed; however, the decision forcing these facilities into premature shutdown results from unfavorable public policy driven by political agendas which hopefully will be revisited and reversed in the future.”
Hamilton and Tucker asked that the facilities be “maintained in a state of readiness as viable alternatives are sought as opposed to their mothballing and subsequent dismantling.”
- Details
Tuesday, June 16, Bill Raney and Sandi Davison had the honor of attending the West Virginia Scholar announcement at West Virginia Wesleyan College. The Friends of Coal/WVCA, along with the WV Homebuilders Association, West Virginia Hospital Association, MVB Bank, Inc. and West Virginia MetroNews are all sponsors of this event.
Ten finalists were selected out of a large group of scholars and Breaunna Haynes of Parkersburg South High School was the recipient of a four-year renewable tuition, fees and room and board scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan College. Margaret Lohmann of Bridgeport High School was First Runner-up with a $5,000 four-year renewable scholarship and Second Runner-up with a $2,500 four-year renewable scholarship was Khori Lowther of Lewis County High School. The first and second runner-up scholarships can be added to other college scholarship programs. These are endowed scholarships funded by the late Olive O’Dell Culpepper and C. Ross Culpepper and has been continued by the generous support of Marvin and Elaine Culpepper (all graduates of WV Wesleyan). It was a rewarding day to see so many young, outstanding applicants and our future leaders.
- Details
WVCA Annual Meeting registration has been e-mailed, along with The Greenbrier’s room registration form with our special room rates. To receive our special rates your reservations must be made by July 5th. The WVCA registration form must be returned to us as soon as possible so we can get a good count for each event at the Annual Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for August 6 – 9th and we will be celebrating our 100th Anniversary. Our special photographers will be joining us so this will be the perfect time to get a formal photo of the family.
- Details
CHARLESTON – Industry and community leaders joined together with key lawmakers at the kickoff to a series of coal forums forum in Charleston Tuesday entitled “West Virginia Coal – 2015 & Beyond.”
The event was hosted by the West Virginia Coal Forum, which is an organization that represents both labor and management in the coal industry.
The program is the first in a series of events intended to bring attention to the impacts already created by potential impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan.
In opening the event, Chris Hamilton, senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association and co-chairman of the Coal Forum, said clearly that the situation has now reached crisis level.
To address the issue, Hamilton said the Coal Forum plans to send a letter to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to save those plants.
“I'm told that train has left the station,” Hamilton said. “Maybe it's too late, but we're going to ask."
- Details
The WV Congressional delegate wrote Governor Tomblin concerning the EPA’s proposed rule to reduce greenhouse emissions fromexistingfossil fuel power plants on Wednesday, June 3rd. The letter urged the Governor to consider not submitting a state implementation plan (SIP) due to concerns over EPA’s legal justification and the impact Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) will have on jobs, electricity prices and grid reliability.
The complete letter is attached.
- Details
The following High School seniors have been awarded $1000.00 scholarships from the Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary for the 2016 school year:
From Logan County: Hannah Hunter, Logan High School, attending Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College majoring in Nursing; and, Samantha Short, Man High School, attending University of Charleston, majoring in Nursing
From Raleigh County: Luke Carpenter, Liberty High School, attending Glenville State, majoring in Accounting; Dalton Radford, Woodrow Wilson High School, attending Concord University, majoring in Business/Accounting; and,Brandon Hampton, Independence High School, attending Marshall University, majoring in Nursing. We congratulate each of these recipients and wish them the best of luck as they embark on their college careers.
- Details
West Virginia Coal Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton was the guest Thursday, June 4, on the Mike Queen Radio Show, which is broadcast across the northern part of the state on the AJR News Network - a network covering 14 counties in Central West Virginia.
Hamilton gave an update on the current status of the coal industry as well as the issues facing it today, and he discussed what he sees as the future of the industry in the region as well as his take on the recently completed 2015 legislative session and the political changes that swept through West Virginia in the 2014 election cycle.
- Details
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Monday began reviewing EPA's rule that will govern carbon emissions from existing power plants, according to a notice on the agency's website.
The regulation is the centerpiece of the Obama administration's climate agenda, and is meant to prove to the world that the U.S. is serious about taking action on climate change ahead of international talks this December in Paris, despite the absence of resolved science!
OMB's review begins as the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals considers a lawsuit seeking to stop the rulemaking in its tracks. That court is expected to rule in the coming weeks, and the judges appear to be leaning toward making EPA's critics wait until the rule is finalized to bring their complaint. OMB has been reviewing EPA's separate carbon rules for future and modified plants since early May. All of those rules are expected to be finalized sometime this summer, possibly in August.
- Details
Congressman David McKinley (R-1st District) announced his intentions Monday to run for re-election. McKinley had considered a run for governor.
McKinley maintains the state Republican Party was not involved in his decision to stay in Washington. Instead, the Congressman said he and his wife decided to put aside “personal aspirations” and fight for West Virginians who have lost their jobs in the mining industry. He explained his reasoning in an open letter to the Wheeling Post-Intelligencer this week: “There comes a time to put aside our personal aspirations, to double down a resistance to the policies in Washington that are ill-conceived and destructive to our nation's economy,” McKinley wrote. “The war on coal that led to this recent loss of 2,268 coal mining jobs didn't originate in Charleston; no, it came from the White House. That's where the fight is and that's where I could serve best.
“The tragic loss of 2,268 coal mining jobs made that clear to me. The struggle to save our nation takes place every day in Washington. President Obama's term is for another year and a half. He can still do irreparable harm to our struggling economy and especially our fossil fuel industries. What havoc he has wrought on coal is merely a prelude to his next target: Natural gas.
“President William McKinley once said, ‘Duty determines destiny.’ My duty is to protect West Virginia families from being further victimized by the Obama Administration and the EPA.
“It is time for me to focus on the work ahead of us in Congress. These 2,268 coal mining families need an experienced, tested voice in Washington. Someone not afraid to step away from party affiliation, to stand up to the bullying tactics of an administration which can't grasp the harm its regulations are having on families and businesses.
“Our country must never be allowed to turn its back on our coal industry.
“These 2,268 families deserve better. America deserves better.
“These are casualties of a war on coal and that war on coal didn’t originate in Charleston,” McKinley said. “It came from the White House and that’s why I think I can serve best is back here in Washington as a member of Congress.”
- 2016 RACE FOR GOVERNOR BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE
- SAFETY BOARD ADOPTS EMERGENCY RULE GOVERNING EQUIPMENT MOVES – Effective June 2, 2015
- COAL JOBS AND SAFETY ACT OF 2015 WENT INTO EFFECT
- LEGISLATURE’S JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAX REFORM PREPARING FOR 2016 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
- WVCA AND FOC JOIN LEGISLATURE TO SHOW SUPPORT OF CAPITO BILL
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.
