The Friends of Coal Ladies’ Auxiliary (FOCLA) continues to work hard to raise awareness of the good things the state’s coal industry does for West Virginia and its people by taking a very active role in community activities. Their recent and continuing activities include:
· Their online store featuring trademarked Friends of Coal items is active at www.friendsofcoalladies.com, which also features their 2015 DVD from the 100th AnniversaryCoal Association Meeting this summer.
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has named Martin "Rick" Atkinson III to replace former Delegate Bob Ashley in the 11th District for the West Virginia House of Delegates. Earlier, the Governor had appointed Bob Ashley (R-Roane) to the 3rd District State Senate vacancy created by the resignation of David Nohe, who accepted an appointment to the West Virginia Parole Board. Atkinson, a West Virginia University graduate, retired from BPB-Stella Jones in 2013 and currently serves as director of sales for Mountain State Log Homes. He is an active volunteer with the 4-H Club in Roane County and has helped replace the cabins at Camp Sheppard. Atkinson is a member of First Baptist Church in Spencer. He and his wife, Jeanette, live in Reedy.
The fallout from the Obama Administration's eight year War on Coal continues to play havoc with the state's budget as the monthly coal severance collections took another tumble in October. According to the latest information from the state Department of Tax and Revenue, October revenues were $23.8 million below estimates, with fiscal -year-to-date collections $91.6 million below projections.
West Virginia’s attorney general is once again leading a coalition of states against the U.S. EPA’s carbon agenda — this time against the Clean Power Plan’s new power plant component, the New Source Performance Standards.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey on Nov. 3 released an unofficial version of his petition for review of the EPA’s new source rule, which will be submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. While he provided few details of his challenge, Morrisey pledged to show that the rule exceeds the EPA’s statutory authority and is otherwise arbitrary and capricious. Those seeking to challenge an agency action must indicate their intent to do so within 60 days of a rule’s publication in the Federal Register, although they do not have to lay out their arguments in that filing.
“Energy policy needs to ensure all Americans have affordable and reliable electricity to meet everyday challenges and to help build a strong foundation of economic success. Regardless of where you stand politically, this plan fails to meet that threshold.”
Washington, D.C. – New analysis from NERA Economic Consulting shows the Environmental Protection Agency’s power plan comes with a hefty price tag that could approach $300 billion and raise electricity prices in each of the 47 states subject to the new regulation. Despite these enormous costs, the rule does nothing to prevent global climate change.