Coal Communities Applaud Decision:
An Important First Step in Ending Agency’s War on Coal

CHARLESTON – In a ruling released today, a DC federal court judge blasted the EPA for exceeding its authority under the Clean Water Act with its implementation of “enhanced coordination procedures (ECP)” that effectively nullifed the authority of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The ECP has been used to obstruct the timely issuance of hundreds of mining permits in Appalachia since enacted in first months of the Obama Administration in 2009.

CHARLESTON – The Friends of Coal would like to congratulate Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on his hard-fought victory over GOP challenger Bill Maloney in yesterday’s gubernatorial race. Both men earned our respect for the way in which they conducted themselves in this election.

By Chris Hamilton
Senior Vice President

A recent story by AP reporter Dylan Lovan that appeared in your newspaper and others regarding coal production in Appalachia, contained enough fact to create a headline but the facts were lost amidst erroneous statements and distortions.

In the story, Lovan asserted that – based on a report by the U.S. Department of Energy and another “study” by a Morgantown-based anti-coal advocacy group -- that coal production in the Central Appalachian region is in the midst of an irreversible decline.

Lower production reflects hostile policy, not lack of reserves

Charleston Daily Mail - Commentary

A recent story by Associated Press reporter Dylan Lovan regarding coal production in Appalachia contained enough fact to create a headline, but the facts were lost amidst erroneous statements and distortions.

Lovan asserted that - based on a report by the U.S. Department of Energy and another "study" by a Morgantown-based anti-coal advocacy group - that coal production in the Central Appalachian region is in the midst of an irreversible decline.

Lovan further asserted that this decline is the result of the rapid depletion of quality coal reserves in the region, and that the anti-coal policies being pursued by the Obama administration through its regulatory agencies has little do to with the decline.

by Keith Koffler on October 1, 2011, 10:58 am

It now appears that the Energy Department was something of a haven for Obama fundraisers who wanted to affect policy after the election.

ABC News is reporting that several Obama fundraisers found themselves helping out around the place. Some of them had ties to green energy projects that DOE ended up supporting.

Well known already is DOE’s precipitous and calamitous decision to fund Solyndra, which was backed by Obama fundraiser George Kaiser.

Also known is that another Obama fundraiser, Stephen Spinner, was involved in advising on the Energy Department’s loan program. His wife’s law firm represented Solyndra, but the firm claims she had recused herself from work with the company.