The Association’s summer environmental conference has been scheduled for July 24, 2019 at the Conference Center & Inn at Flatwoods, W.Va.  Association staff will be joined by representatives of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal Office of Surface Mining and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife to update the membership on relevant environmental regulatory and topics. 

A more precise agenda will be provided in advance of the meeting. 

Attendance at the meeting is free for WVCA members. 

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.

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!

CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ The West Virginia Coal Association convened its 46^th 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:

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.”