The West Virginia Coal Association and the Friends of Coal were asked to deliver the lunch address at the annual Coal Miner's Celebration Thursday at the Resort at Glade Springs in Raleigh County.
WVCA President Bill Raney told the crowd, estimated at about 200, that coal remains a vital part of the nation’s energy mix and will continue to be into to the foreseeable future “if the Obama Administration ever gets straightened out.”
Raney talked about the EPA’s apparent war on Appalachian coal and that Congress and the Administration must be made to realize the importance it has on the economy of the state, region and nation.
Gov. Joe Manchin was also on hand for the celebration and he pointed out that the Obama Administration was wrong to discriminate against eastern coal states.
"Coal mining is a good job and what you haven't accounted for is the patriotic sense of duty that our miners have. Not only do they provide a good living, they provide a way of life for this country and there is pride in that," says Governor Joe Manchin, during his speech at the celebration.
The crowd also had the opportunity to see and hear about some of the latest equipment and technologies available for the industry.