According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. metallurgical exports for the period of January thru July 2010 were ahead of those for the same period last year by more than 92%, while steam exports were down by 8%.  2010 coal imports were 18% less than 2009 for the first six month period.  For the period ending on 10/9, West Virginia’s 2010 year-to-date production was 1.8% behind last year. 

Gravity Zipline stands as the latest tourism venture that brings a new vision to lands that once brought economic benefit through mining.  “This property was a working surface mine in the 1970s and was reclaimed in the 1980s,” said Dave Arnold, director of public relations for Adventures on the Gorge.  “it has been restored to its natural contours and is a good example of how quickly nature heals itself.”

WVCA is pleased with the land’s new use as an adventure destination.  “There is a special synergy between the tourism and coal mining industries in West Virginia,” said Bill Raney.  “This is an exceptional example of how reclaimed land can continue to bring economic vitality to an area when it is repurposed for tourism.”

Gravity takes riders soaring a jaw-dropping 200 feet above the ground at its highest point.  Riders start from a platform on one of the highest points above the valley on two consecutive warm-up zips, each about 500 feet long.  Then, the real actions kicks in with the third zip crossing a distance of 1800 feet over the bowl of the mountain.  The fourth and fifth zips stretch 1600 and 1300 feet, respectively, reaching heights of about 200 feet above the ground and speeds up to 45 miles per hour.  Elevated above the trees, adventurers have unspoiled views of the ever-changing West Virginia forests as they scale the mountainside during their two-hour ride in the sky.
          
Gravity is open to all guests 12 years and older who meet the weight range requirements of 100-250 pounds.  For more information visit:  www.adventurewestvirginia.com

The Friends of Coal are urging everyone to be responsible citizens and vote November 2. This election is vital to the future of our state and our nation. Decisions will be made in the next Congress and our state Legislature that will impact our people for generations.  

Make your voice heard! Vote November 2.

The Friends of Coal is continuing its outreach efforts on several fronts into the fall. In addition to a full schedule of conferences and events planned for the fall, the organization is hosting various groups of college students interested in learning about the industry.
            
Next week, the Friends of Coal will meet with a group of students from Nebraska in conjunction with Wheeling Jesuit University. In addition, we are continuing planning for another in our series of regional coal symposiums.  The next one is being planned for southern West Virginia within the next few weeks.

If you are interested in having the Friends of Coal represented at your event or meeting, please give us a call at 304.342.4153 or email us at theadley@wvcoal.com or sdavison@wvcoal.com.

What do individuals think when the word coal comes to mind? Usually, heat, use in generation of electric, mining, way of life for millions of individuals, etc. Yes, those are the normal thoughts, but what about by products of the industry? Nature has treated the United States generously with excellent coal resources and much more is derived from the coal industry than just lumps of the black material from our land. That is only the beginning of a process that provides the world a multitude of products that are very beneficial in our every day life. We all know that we get Power and Heat if we burn coal. In addition, processing of coal provides us with hundreds of useful products.