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There is a sudden, unexpected and massive rise in electricity demand occurring across the country due to a variety of factors converging before us.
Large power-gobbling data centers necessary to support our nation’s ever-increasing digital activities and the evolution of artificial intelligence technologies are a primary factor.
Our growing economy, the rise in remote work, personal technology reliance, and electric vehicle usage are also contributing to this demand.
This is great news for states like West Virginia, which generate more electricity than it consumes and has the capability and capacity to accommodate the expected growth in demand.
Not only is West Virginia blessed with indigenous coal supplies, but we also check the box for available land mass and plentiful water supplies necessary for power development.
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WVCA’s Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton presented testimony at the MSHA’s public hearing on Proposed Rule on Proximity Detection Systems for Continuous Mining Machines in Underground Coal Mines last week. The hearing was conducted by Greg Wagner, MSHA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary
Hamilton discussed issues and concerns with the proposed timeline for refitting continuous miners with proximity detectors and advised of the work done by the WV Mine Safety Technology Task Force and encouraged MSHA to coordinate the development of this rule with the State. He also used the hearing as an opportunity to express concern over the agencies position and reluctance to approve extended-cut remote controlled mining plans in order to minimize unnecessary repeated exposure to moving equipment underground.
Full WVCA testimony as well as testimony presented by Brian Thompson of Joy Global is available from WVCA by contacting Chris Hamilton at
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The West Virginia Mining Symposium continued in Charleston Thursday and Governor Tomblin was there holding up one of the promises he made in his State of the State Address.
His administration is introducing a mine safety bill. Some key components are mandatory drug testing of all miners, including pre-employment testing, requiring employers to report when workers are let go because of violations, even if they just refuse, and giving employees 30 days to notify the state if they've been convicted of a drug related crime.
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Charleston, W.Va. – Twenty-seven states, including West Virginia, today filed motions with the U.S. Supreme Court to stay EPA’s carbon rule that was finalized in early May. Chris Hamilton, President and CEO of the West Virginia Coal Association, offers the following statement:
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"We appreciate the West Virginia Republican Party and all the state representatives that attended the convention and proudly wore these hardhats to pay tribute to our state’s foundational industry and hard working miners,” said Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association.
“Millions of Americans who watched the convention likely saw the red, white, and blue hard hats which symbolize the strength and resilience of our citizenry during cut-away shots of the crowd and in various media reports.
The West Virginia Coal Association is proud to support our delegation and wholeheartedly and enthusiastically approve of the vote they cast for Donald J. Trump for President”.
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