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Coal operators, environmentalists ponder rebranding
By Taylor Kuykendall Register-Herald Reporter The Register-Herald Mon Dec 27, 2010, 12:03 AM EST
BECKLEY — Coal operators and environmentalists have been pondering the value of a name since the revelation that the coal industry may push for “rebranding” surface mining as “mountaintop development” instead of “mountaintop removal.”The process of blasting the top of a mountain to obtain its underground coal reserves instead of digging a mine has been a much easier target for environmentalists since it has become known as mountaintop removal. However, coal industry executives say the term “mountaintop development” would paint a more accurate picture of the practice.
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LOGAN – The Friends of Coal would like to thank the Father George Kostas; Pastor Mitchell Bias; John Roberts, executive director of the Mountain Mission, Debrina Williams of the Logan Chamber of Commerce and everyone else involved in last night’s interfaith service to honor those who work in our nation’s coal mines.
Our coal mining family has suffered loss and faced uncertainty this past year. We have faced an almost constant assault by an administration that puts political agendas ahead of people. Our families have been subjected to months of worry and fear – fear for their jobs, fear that they might lose their homes and their way of life.
We want to thank Father Kostas, Rev. Bias and everyone who came to the service last night. Your words gave us comfort. Your support gave us hope and lifted our hearts during this Holy Season.
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Certainly, its dependability is appreciated in Alberta clippers
With winter yet to begin, December found tens of millions of Americans struggling to cope with a record-breaking cold snap that affected huge areas of the nation.In the Midwest, some motorists spent days trapped in pileups on snow-covered highways. In the South, some Floridians scrambled to save valuable crops like citrus fruits and strawberries, and others hastened to rescue hundreds of sea turtles reduced to a coma-like state by the cold. But most Americans had heat and light when they made it home after a long day. Those amenities go underappreciated until they go missing.
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Washington, D.C.—Senator Jay Rockefeller has informed Senate Leadership that he will insist on a vote on his EPA-suspension legislation this year. If left with no other option, Senator Rockefeller will seek to suspend the rules on the Omnibus Appropriations bill to bring up his legislation.
“The time has come for us to make a decision on the energy future of our country,” said Senator Rockefeller. “I have spent this year fighting to make sure that Congress, not the EPA, determines how best to reduce greenhouse gases in a way that protects West Virginia’s economy. While there are still ongoing discussions about how Congress should proceed, I want to make it clear that I intend to get a vote this year on my EPA-suspension legislation. I know there is bipartisan support for this legislation, and if necessary, I will seek to suspend the rules and bring this up for a vote. This is too important for us to delay any further.”
Background:
Senator Rockefeller’s legislation will allow two years for Congress to consider energy legislation in lieu of EPA greenhouse gas regulations which would otherwise take effect on January 2, 2011. The legislation directs that for two years after enactment the EPA may take no action to make stationary sources of carbon dioxide or methane emission, such as power plants, refineries, and manufacturing facilities, subject to permitting requirements or New Source Performance Standards under the Clean Air Act. However, the legislation allows continued implementation of widely-supported motor vehicle emission standards.
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Association member law firm, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, announced the opening of a second Pennsylvania office December 16. The new office will support exploration and commercial developments related to the Marcellus shale. The office will be located in the Southpointe Business Complex just off I-79 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Kristian E. White, a member of the firm practicing in the areas of energy, real estate, and commercial transactions, will transfer from the Wheeling, West Virginia office to serve as Southpointe’s Managing Member.
White will be supported by other members of the firm’s energy team and litigators including Russell L. Schetroma, Sharon O. Flanery and James C. Wright.
"Expanding our energy practice into Canonsburg and Southpointe reinforces our commitment to be closer to our clients to help them achieve their goals,” Brewer began. “The addition of our Southpointe office allows us to bring know-how and advocacy to our clients and new businesses entering the Marcellus shale,” she said.
In September, Steptoe & Johnson acquired the energy practice group of the western Pennsylvania firm of Culbertson, Weiss, Schetroma and Schug, P.C. Having served clients throughout Pennsylvania for decades, Steptoe & Johnson’s official presence in Meadville and Southpointe facilitates the continued provision of legal services to regional Appalachian clients.
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West Virginia granted more than $50 million
The U.S. Department of the Interior is releasing $395 million to states and tribes for cleaning up abandoned coal mines across the nation. West Virginia, the nation’s No. 2 coal producing state, will get $51.3 million and Kentucky will receive approximately $38 million.
The grants are funded in part by a per-ton reclamation fee levied on all coal produced in the United States, allow state and tribal programs to correct environmental damage from past mining, reclaim steep and unstable slopes, improve water quality by treating acid mine drainage, and restore water supplies damaged by mining.
A 2009 Department of the Interior economic study showed that when state and tribal programs invested the $298 million available during that fiscal year, the cumulative economic impact in the communities where projects were completed was an estimated $733 million.
"These grants have significant economic and environmental impacts in coalfield communities across the country," Salazar said. "In the past three years alone, OSM has distributed more than a billion dollars in these funds to states and tribes, enabling them to undertake projects that benefit the environment while employing people living in affected areas."
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Coal expected to remain “dominant fuel” through 2035
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) this week released its Annual Energy Outlook 2011. The agency expects coal will continue to be the “dominant fuel” used to generate electricity in the United States through 2035, according to new projections released Thursday by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) — the statistical arm of the Energy Department. Though EIA predicts that no new coal plants will be built between now and 2035 — with the exception of those that are under construction or are built as a result of incentives for low-emissions coal — coal will dominate the country’s energy portfolio. The reason? The United States will continue to rely on existing coal-fired power plants to produce its electricity.
Coal will continue to be the “dominant fuel” used to generate electricity in the United States through 2035, according to new projections released Thursday by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) — the statistical arm of the Energy Department.
Though EIA predicts that no new coal plants will be built between now and 2035 — with the exception of those that are under construction or are built as a result of incentives for low-emissions coal — coal will dominate the country’s energy portfolio. The reason? The United States will continue to rely on existing coal-fired power plants to produce its electricity.
The EIA expects total U.S. coal consumption to increase from 19.7 quadrillion Btu in 2009 to 25.2 quadrillion Btu in 2035. Coal consumption for electricity generation increases gradually throughout the projected period from using existing plants more intensively and from the few new plants already under construction.
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The 2010 edition of Coal Facts 2010, both the traditional magazine format and a new tri-fold brochure, are now available.
The publication provides a summary of coal production and employment trends through the 2009 reporting year, as well as interesting features on coal history and methods of production, including an informative piece on surface mining, restoration and post-mine land use.
In addition, the publication provides a listing of environmental and safety award winning operations as well as profiles of our Coal Hall of Fame members.
If you would like a hard copy, give us a call at 304.342.4153 or e-mail:
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The West Virginia Coal Association hosted a meeting with newly-elected lawmakers prior to the 2011 regular session of the State Legislature. The meeting drew several of the newly elected members, who discussed their goals and heard a short presentation about the importance of coal to the state’s economy.
The 2011 session of the Legislature begins at noon on January 12 and runs through mid-March. The Association has also scheduled a series of legislative forums sponsored by individual member companies (see calendar of events below).
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