By Paul Driessen

Global temperatures haven’t risen in 18 years. The nine years since a Category 3 hurricane or stronger hit the United States is the longest period since 1900.

Antarctic ice is at record highs. Arctic ice is rebounding. Sea levels are rising at less than a foot per century. Rains, floods and droughts are well within historic patterns.

Nevertheless, climate alarmists are wailing that “our planet’s actual survival is at risk.” Using executive fiats and regulations, President Obama is delaying the Keystone XL pipeline and blocking oil and gas drilling, while hisEnvironmental Protection Agencywages war on coal country workers and families.

The Friends of Coal’s educational and outreach efforts continue this week when the organization hosts a tour of area mining operations for students from Washington & Lee University of Virginia on Tuesday, September 2nd.

The group will be hosted by Board members Andrew Jordon, Ben Hatfield and Bill Raney who will take them to visit the Tyler-Morgan facility, which features not only examples of mining and reclamation but also has been incorporated into Joint Base West Virginia, a multi-model, multi-site training facility for the National Guard and other Department of Defense components.

This site continues to be a perfect example of the many wide and varied uses former mine sites – and even current operations – are being put to through effective partnerships between the industry, government and private enterprise. 

A repeat of last winter's deep freeze could lead to electricity blackouts in a clutch of states spanning the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic as proposed environmental regulations propel a switch toward natural gas-fired power.

PJM Interconnection, a regional grid operator, proposed new measures aimed at ensuring it doesn't again flirt with losing 22 percent of its electricity capacity as it did during the "polar vortex" in early January. Echoing the concerns of Republicans and some centrist Democrats who have admonished the Obama administration for rules that would restrain the use of coal-fired power, PJM noted the situation could become more dire under a "rapid transition" from coal to natural gas.

Alpha Natural Resources is sponsoring the “Scramble for Scouting Golf Classic” on September 22, 2014 at Berry Hills Country Club to raise funds for the Boy Scouts of America Buckskin Council’s mentoring and outdoor education programs.  MORE THAN EVER, AMERICAN FAMILIES NEED SCOUTING’S POSITIVE INFLUENCE.  There are a number of raffle/auction items you can win at this event:  Hole-in-One Contest for a BMW X3 28i; foursomes at about every golf course in the area; airline tickets within the Continental U.S.; golf accessories, just to name a few.   There are two flights: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., shotgun starts.  Lunch will be provided for both flights at noon.  A registration form is available from sdavison@wvcoal.com.

The deadline for registering to vote in the November general election is October 14, 2014. This is also the deadline for citizens to change their address or switch political parties. To check your registration or to download a registration form, visit the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/voterinformation/VoterRegistration/Pages/default.aspx/

Early voting will begins October 22 and runs through November 1. Please make note!