Latest News

New Members

On a conference call of the Board of Directors last week, the following new members were approved for Associate membership.

Astralloy Steel Products a Nucor Company with Jonathan Gillium as their representative;

Cargotec USA, Inc., represented by Randy Shifler; and, Peoples Insurance Agency represented by Christopher Clarke.

Welcome to each of our new members and we look forward to working with you in the coming years.

FOC Ladies Need Assistance

Christmas is over, some meant to send or have let it slip their minds but the FOC Ladies Auxiliary needs to receive their checks for the "Giving Hearts Project". This project has not been fully funded for the year, so if you would please get your contributions into the Auxiliary, it would certainly be appreciated.

Ninety families was the total for this year with many mothers and/or fathers who are or have been deployed militarily seeking help for their families. Numerous families in Mercer, Fayette, Webster, Wyoming, Kanawha, and Raleigh are included in this number.

FOC Ladies Auxiliary is a 501- C- 3 Non-Profit Organization - FEIN #27-3379290.

PO Box 1109, Beckley, WV 25802-1109. (304) 252.1457 Ext. 20.

Jackson Resigns for EPA

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced her resignation yesterday (Thursday) morning, to be effective following the President’s State-of-the-Union Address. While that is good news for West Virginia and the other Eastern coal states, there has been no indication of a successor, although Robert Perciasepe, the EPA Deputy Administrator is expected to take over temporarily. We can only hope the next Administrator has a greater appreciation for the tremendous work our people do in providing energy to the country and the world. Jackson did not say what she intends to do after leaving government.

David Zegeer Passes

David Zageer, a longtime resident of Lexington, KY, a mining engineer and former Assistant Secretary for the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA), died December 10, at the age of 90.

PSC tells FirstEnergy to Keep Three Coal-Fired Power Plants Open in WV

By The Associated Press

ST. MARYS, W.Va. -- West Virginia regulators are questioning FirstEnergy Corp.'s plan to close three aging coal-fired power plants.

The state Public Service Commission has ordered the company to keep the Albright, Willow Island and Rivesville power stations operable while it reviews the plan.

Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy plans to retire the plants by Sept. 1. The company attributes the shutdowns to new federal environmental regulations that are designed to reduce emissions of toxic pollutants from coal- and oil-fired plants.

In its order, the PSC said it wants to review the factors that justify closing the plants, the impact on customers and what options were considered.

FirstEnergy spokesman Mark Durbin told the Parkersburg News and Sentinel that the company is working to answer the PSC's questions.

Coalfield Heroes: Friends of Coal Recognizes Friends and Families of Coal for their “Keep the Christmas Lights On” Effort

We would like to recognize the Friends and Families of Coal group for their efforts with the "Keep the Christmas Lights On" group ... They are showing the true spirit of this holiest of seasons. On their own they have raised more than $25,000 to help unemployed coal miners and their families. Much more is needed to make sure that no coal miner's family faces a Christmas without food, without happiness and feeling alone. If you want to donate time, money, food, toys, please call Roger Horton at 304.687.9407 or email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit the link below.

https://sites.google.com/site/keepthechristmaslightson/home

Friends of Coal Wishes All a Joyous Holiday Season

In this most joyous of seasons, the Friends of Coal would like to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We are so thankful to be part of the family of coal. And we would like to recognize our coal miners and their families for the hard work that they do to make the lights of Christmas burn so brightly. We would like to take a moment and just say thank you to all those who provide service and support to our miners throughout the year.

2012 hasn’t been easy. Far too many of our people are laid off, but we believe the future of our industry remains bright, but we need lots of help.

Let us remember that Christmas isn’t about material things … Christmas is about love and in that we West Virginians are wealthy in abundance. And we would like to give thanks to our Creator for the many blessings He has bestowed on us, our State and our Nation.
A Message from the Friends of Coal

NMA Names New Communications Senior VP

The National Mining Association has announced the appointment of Nancy Gravatt to the position of senior vice president of communications effective January 3, 2013. Gravatt will be replacing Carol Raulston, who will remain with NMA until May 15, when she plans to retire.

Congratulations to both Carol and Nancy.

FOC & The Greenbrier Team Up

Friends of Coal drag racer Greg Fowler of Point Pleasant recently was awarded 800 toys from Jim Justice at The Greenbrier as part of the Dreamtree program. Greg used his FOC trailer to transport the presents from White Sulphur Springs to Mason and Jackson Counties. “…to be able to provide youth with something at Christmas that normally would not have anything is very uplifting and satisfying” stated Greg. “It is an honor to represent FOC around the state with the activities that I do with youth”.
  1. EPA Extends Comment Period
  2. West Virginia Coal Association and Friends of Coal Salute our State’s Best This Weekend in Wheeling
  3. Wyoming County Official Walks to Washington D.C. Raising Awareness of Coal
  4. Norfolk Southern Completes Upgrades to Virginia Export Coal Facility
  5. Southern Coal Gets AEP Contract, Recalls Workers

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