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Parkersburg (W.Va.) News and Sentinel on the shrinking coal industry:
Coal is the most economical fuel available to produce electricity, by far. The United States has been referred to as the "Saudi Arabia of coal," with much of the nation's reserves right here in West Virginia.
Yet coal production in our state is expected to decline precipitously. Why?
Government policies play a major role — and they may become even more detrimental — believes the head of a major coal company that is poised to grow in West Virginia.
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Pictured from left to right: Ray Scites, TVMI Treasurer; Courtney Blackburn, Belfry; Aimee Williamson, Belfry; Sara Mullins, Belfry; Alexandria Workman, Belfry; Amber Hopkins, Tug Valley; Dr. Stephen J. Kopp, Marshall University President; and Andy Ashurst, TVMI President (not pictured, Logan Bartley, Pike Central High)
At the May 26, 2011, Tug Valley Mining Institute (TVMI) dinner meeting, the six 2011 scholarship recipients were named. The two top $6,000 scholarship awards went to Aimee Williamson, Belfry High School and Alexandria Workman, Belfry High School. Four $750 scholarship awards went to Logan Bartley, Pike Central High School; Courtney Blackburn, Belfry High School; Amber Hopkins, Tug Valley High School; and Sara Mullins, Belfry High School.
The guest speaker was Dr. Stephen J. Kopp, President of Marshall University, and he provided an inspirational speech directed toward the scholars regarding the educational journey they are starting. He encouraged the scholars to invest in themselves now with education so that they could be the leaders and decision makers of tomorrow. Hi-Tech Construction sponsored the meeting and has been a long time supporter of the scholarship program.
Over the last fifteen years, TVMI has awarded 90 (ninety) students $198,250 in scholarship monies. The TVMI scholarship is open to students from Mingo, Logan, Wayne, Pike, and Martin counties. The applications are available in November of each year and may be obtained from Marsha Williams at the First National Bank of Williamson or from the TVMI website (www.tugvalleymi.org).
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The EPA has been rewriting the rules for far too long and it’s time to return primary responsibility over Appalachian land and water resources – to Appalachia!
The Obama administration’s anti-coal EPA has made it quite clear that it does not consider the importance of coal jobs, coal communities or even states’ rights in their decision making process.
Over the past two years the EPA has issued onerous and unreachable guidance, held dozens of permits in regulatory limbo and revoked a permit that was already-approved on the state andfederal level.
It’s time to reign in the EPA – and we need your help!
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- Provided two 30-second Friends of Coal television spots to be shown on the main scoreboard at the WVSSAC baseball tournament.
- Provided 100 Friends of Coal yard signs to the Arch Coal CAP to be posted through Boone County in conjunction with the Coal Festival and the anti-coal March on Blair Mountain.
- Developed a print advertisement to run in the program for the Beckley Miners semi-pro baseball team spotlighting the new FOC license plate.
- June 2 --- Briefed staff member of Senator Joe Manchin on the Clean Water Act actions in West Virginia
- June 3 --- Presentation to 175 high school juniors at the WV HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth) Annual Convocation in Morgantown
- June 3 – Scott High School Coal Symposium in Madison. All day presentation.
- June 11 – Will maintain an informational booth at the Hatfield-McCoy Days Festival in Williamson in conjunction with the marathon race.
- June 13 — Boy Scouts of America District Day Camp at Camp Arrowhead in Ona. Lunch time presentation. Noon to 1:00pm
- June 14 — Boy Scouts of America M-G-M District Day Camp at Point Pleasant. Lunch time presentation. Noon to 1:00pm.
- June 15 – Presentation on Post-Mine Land Use at Pipestem State Park in conjunction with Dennis Jarvis and RSL.
- June 23 – Deadline for editorial submissions to the State Journal direct message.
- June 21-25 – Will maintain an informational booth at the West Virginia Coal Festival in Madison.
- July 15-17th – Will maintain an informational booth at the Friends of Coal Auto Fair in Beckley.
- July 21-22 – Presentation to the Energy Session of Leadership West Virginia Class of 2011 in Huntington.
- August 12-20 – Will maintain an informational booth and a one-day sponsorship of the West Virginia State Fair in Lewisburg.
Additional speaking engagements have been tentatively set for Parkersburg and Morgantown. Dates TBA.
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The West Virginia Coal Association and Friends of Coal websites continue to draw good numbers. Upgrades to the site include new and improved links to the Friends of Coal Auto Fair webpage, the WVSSAC webpage, and information about the Friends of Coal Bowl.
FOC Website
The Friends of Coal website saw over 3400 visitors for the month of May. The site generated over 7800 individual page views with 82 percent of total visitors coming to the site for the first time. The site had visitors from 57 countries and territories with 44 percent of the site's visitors coming via search engines.
WVCA Website
The West Virginia Coal Association website saw over 4900 visitors for the month of May. The site generated over 11,000 page views with 72 percent of total visitors coming to the site for the first time. The site had visitors from 85 countries and territories with 81 percent of the site's visitors coming via search engines.
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Coal production in the U.S. increased to 1,085.3 million short tons in 2010, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). U.S. coal consumption increased in all sectors except commercial and institutional (formerly commercial and residential), while coal stocks fell slightly.
Overall coal production increased by 1 percent in 2010. The Interior and Western regions increased production by 7.4 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively, while the Appalachian Region decreased 2.1 percent. An increase in Interior Region production was boosted by a 6.5 million short ton increase in Texas production. The Interior and Western regions produced 10.8 million short tons and 6.6 million short tons, respectively, in 2010.
Improvements in the U.S. economy led to an increase in the use of coal, along with a cold winter and warm summer in coal-consuming regions. Total coal consumption increased by 5.1 percent from 2009 levels to 1,048.3 million short tons. Coal-fired generation increased by 42 million short tons in the electric power sector and by 13.9 percent in all other sectors.
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The state could end the fiscal year with a tax collection surplus of more than $270 million. State Deputy Revenue Secretary Mark Muchow tells MetroNews that through May tax collections exceeded estimates by $273 million. He says that's a good sign for the end of the fiscal year coming up June 30.
"We knew we were going to be at least $200 million above estimate (for the fiscal year), I believe we will hold on to the $273 million and may go above that by the end of the year," Muchow said.
The driving forces behind the collection numbers have been income taxes and severance taxes. Muchow says those two areas make up 86 percent of the surplus in collections.
"Corporate taxes being up over 37 percent and severance taxes being up over a double-digit margin through the end of May indicate some positive growth," Muchow said.
Businesses in West Virginia, like in other states, were impacted by the recession, but Muchow says recovery has been better than expected.
"Certainly those numbers have surprised us on the high side," he said.
Severance tax collections hit a record amount in May at more than $65 million. The high demand and corresponding high price for coal pushed the collections nearly $40 million more than last year at this time.
Muchow says the state Road Fund is also benefiting in the current atmosphere with fuel tax collections and the taxes paid on new automobile purchases. Muchow predicts the Road Fund will finish at about $650 million for the fiscal year, which would be roughly $20 million more than the current budget year.
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We are proud to announce and welcome the following new members to the Association:
Trinity Resources, LLC, H. Jack Henry, CEO
Fifth Third Bank, Blair DeVan
Lightfoot Capital Partners, Vince Cubbage and Michael Hart
People’s Capital and Leasing Corp., Kenneth P. Andreozzi
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On Wednesday, June 1st, Alpha Natural Resources completed the acquisition of Massey Energy and the “Day One” celebration of the combination featured Governor Tomblin and Alpha CEO Kevin Crutchfield unveiling the new Alpha Natural Resources sign at the Julian, WV office. The name of the road leading to the office was also renamed “Running Right Way” in recognition of Alpha’s comprehensive performance and safety program. “Today’s transaction is transformational for Alpha Natural Resources, the Central Appalachian region and the U.S. coal industry,” Kevin Crutchfield, Alpha’s chief executive, said in a statement. “We are now twice the people, with twice the energy, powering the world.”
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