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Jun. 07, 2019 - 7:20 - West Virginia Coal Association VP Chris Hamilton expresses his disappointment at former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for going after coal miners.
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While we’re in the process of finalizing the specifics for this year’s Annual Meeting Program I want to encourage you to make your hotel reservations at The Greenbrier for August 1-3, 2019. You can reach The Greenbrier Hotel at 304-536-1110 and please mention you are with WVCA. The two and one-half days will follow the same general format with the usual array of national and state speakers bringing us up-to-date on a variety of timely topics pertinent to our markets and operations.
After you’ve made your reservations, we’d appreciate you returning the attached “2019 WVCA Registration Form” to Sandi Davison (
Here’s a reminder for those of you who are familiar with the general schedule for the traditional Annual Meeting and a short summary for those who will be first-timers. Of course, we’ll open the gathering with the Executive Committee and Board of Directors’ meetings on Thursday afternoon, August 1st, followed by the popular Welcoming Reception (6:00 pm) that evening sponsored by our Associate members. Dinner is on your own this evening so you should make reservations for your favorite venue.
The next morning, Friday, August 2nd, immediately following the Fun Run/Walk, (6:30 am) our technical program will begin right after the 7:30 a.m. breakfast. After the technical program, golfers will be ready for their annual tournament (11:30 am), while the non-golfers’ program will be held along with the tennis tournament and, of course, personal, family time at the pools, shooting range, fishing, bowling or just hanging out in the Hotel during the afternoon. That evening, beginning at 7:00 p.m., will be the ever-favorite Friends of Coal Party on Kate’s Mountain with our longtime DJ, Mayonnaise, and a wonderful evening of camaraderie and family time of tremendous eating, visiting and dancing, with a special Kids Corner for the children, during the cocktail hour.
We’ll get another early start on Saturday morning with the 8:00 a.m. technical program immediately followed by our Chairman’s Brunch (11:00 am) featuring a large array of door prizes, the Friends of Coal Ladies’ Auxiliary and a friendly insight by Governor Jim and First Lady Cathy Justice about their first two and one-half years as the state’s First Couple. As usual, we will then be entertained by a nationally-renowned speaker. Over the next few weeks we will provide the specific speakers for our technical programs and the Chairman’s Brunch.
We’re looking forward to another great event for all of us and our families as we gather with a lot of our great friends at one of our favorite places. If you have questions or need more information, please let us know by contacting Sandi at her home in Greenbrier County (304) 392-5502 or cell (304) 419-0286. Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at the Greenbrier in less than six weeks.
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House Bills 3142 and 3144 are critical to rebuilding West Virginia’s coal industry and protecting our mining jobs. The first bill lowers the coal severance tax on steam coal so we can compete against coal from other states that have no severance tax in what remains in the coal-fired electricity market, The second offers a tax rebate on any new investment in West Virginia that expands coal production and employment. Importantly, neither bill would impact the share of coal severance taxes that is provided to county and local governments.
We need both of these bills to secure our future- to make sure our miners keep working and that West Virginia provides that energy that the nation and the world so desperately needs. We need these bills to sustain the industry’s recovery after the devastating War on Coal.
Please email WV Delegates to have them support these critical pieces of legislation!
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ The West Virginia Coal Association convened its 46th annual West Virginia Mining Symposium this week and celebrated the safety and reclamation achievements of mining industry operations across the state.
“West Virginia’s coal industry continues to show its resilience and commitment to excellence across the board,” WVCA President Bill Raney said. “It’s always a proud day for us when we can recognize those who excel in safety and reclamation, showing that the best and brightest in the industry are right here in West Virginia.”
The Symposium took place Jan. 29-30 at the newly renovated Charleston Coliseum and Conference Center in Charleston, W.Va.
SAFETY AWARDS
“Safety always has been and continues to be our top priority in the coal industry,” said Coal Association Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton. “It’s always a proud day for us when we recognize those who excel in safety and demonstrate the highest levels of dedication to protecting our coal miners.”
Inspectors with the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training evaluate all coal operations and contractors to select the winners. Deputy Director Eugene White presented the awards.
The Mountaineer Guardian Safety Awards presented during the Symposium’s Tuesday luncheon are:
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Coal Association is praising President Donald Trump for issuing a new domestic energy plan that will replace the Obama-era “clean power plan” that would have decimated the American coal industry.
“The good news just keeps on coming from the Trump Administration,” WVCA President Bill Raney said. “And for this good news to come on a day when he will be visiting West Virginia makes it even more significant because our coalfields were ground zero for the Obama Administration’s war on coal. It will be an honor to be in Charleston tonight with President Trump when he announces his plans to replace the Obama “Costly Power Plan” with a true domestic energy policy that will protect American jobs.”
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West Virginia is headed in the right direction and there is much to celebrate. Our unemployment rate is low, job growth is high, we anticipate a budget surplus for the first time in years and our workforce participation rate is improving. And this is just the beginning.
Our teachers received a historic raise. We are seeing an incredible amount of infrastructure development. Road and bridge construction is underway at an unprecedented rate and multiple interstate natural gas pipelines are being developed, which will help grow our state’s gas industry and the jobs it provides.
Gov. Jim Justice is leading the charge with President Donald Trump to assure mining and power plant jobs are retained in West Virginia. The Trump-Justice Plan will ensure the safety of America’s power grid while helping grow our economy here at home.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ Shining a bright light on the incredible environmental stewardship in the coal industry, state regulators recognized a host of West Virginia mining operations for their reclamation and environmental stewardship during the 2018 West Virginia Mining Symposium.
The reclamation awards were announced Jan. 31 at the Charleston Civic Center, where the West Virginia Coal Association held its 45th annual symposium. Inspectors with the state Department of Environmental Protection selected the winners, and DEP Secretary Austin Caperton handed out the awards.
“Today’s awards are proof that those in the coal industry are the best, most dedicated environmentalist out there,” said Jason Bostic, vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “We appreciate DEP’s recognition of the incredible work our members are doing to reclaim mine sites and protect the natural beauty of West Virginia. They prove that we can mine coal that powers America and provides feedstock for steel mills.”
The top award – the Greenlands Award, went to Southeastern Land LLC for its work at the Twin Branch Surface Mine. Reclamation involved the redesign of the mining operation dramatically to lower its potential impacts to jurisdictional waters. The company worked with officials in Mingo and Logan counties, allowing excess overburden to be stored on an adjacent area while mining was in progress to help avoid stream disturbance. Additionally, the company and county officials changed the post-mining land use for the permit to include forest land and development of the Twin Branch Motorsports Complex, which includes a drag strip designed with the assistance of the International Hot Rod Association.
Other reclamation award winners are:
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ The West Virginia Coal Association convened its 45th annual West Virginia Mining Symposium Jan. 30 and celebrated the safety achievements of mining industry operations across the state.
“It is an honor for us to present these awards and recognize companies that are leading the way in keeping miners and other workers safe,” said Coal Association Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton. “Our industry will not stop striving for perfection in safety. The goal always has been and always will be zero incidents.”
Inspectors with the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training evaluate all coal operations and contractors to select the winners. Deputy Director Eugene White presented the awards.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In its most impactful decision to date for the nation’s energy security and stability, the Trump Administration has proposed repealing the so-called Clean Power Plan (CPP), and West Virginia’s coal companies could not be more elated.
“This administration continues to live up to the promises it made to the people in our coalfields,” said West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney. “We have been saying for years that the Clean Power Plan was a totally unworkable concept that would cause nothing but devastation for West Virginia’s economy while it forcibly reshaped the country’s electrical grid. With today’s announcement, we see the incredible value that comes with the Trump administration’s pragmatic review of previous environmental policies.”
In its official filing to repeal the Obama-era Clean Power Plan regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the CPP requirements extend beyond what can be achieved by the country’s electric generators and exceed the statutory authority granted to EPA. Furthermore, EPA says it intends to “avoid potentially transformative economic, policy and political significance in the absence of a clear Congressional statement of intent to confer such authority on the Agency.”
Raney said West Virginia’s coal industry is continuing to enjoy a more robust market than it did just a year ago at this time, and repealing the CPP will provide even more market security for the coal industry. He said West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and the West Virginia Legislature should be commended for their efforts over the last several years to combat the previous administration’s anti-coal policies and help West Virginia coal compete in the marketplace.
“All we ever have asked for is a level playing field, and repealing the CPP goes a long way toward achieving that goal,” Raney said.
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