“Bloomberg Strikes Again”

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Commits $500 Million to Destroy American Jobs, U.S. Energy Reliability 

Charleston, W.Va. – With an announced $500 million commitment to expand the Beyond Carbon campaign, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg seeks to shut down every remaining coal-fired power plant in the country, slash natural gas plant capacity in half, and block any new gas plants, all within the next six years. 

Rachel Gleason, President of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, remarked “It is an absolute attack on our state, our livelihoods, and our families. It is un-American that someone would use their wealth to destroy our state and nation’s industrial base and also seek to send a large segment of the 381,000 American workers in industry to the unemployment line while destabilizing electric reliability and security in America.”  

Bloomberg Strikes Again With Effort to Destroy WV Jobs, U.S. Energy Reliability

With an announced $500 million commitment to expand the Beyond Carbon campaign, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg seeks to shut down every remaining coal-fired power plant in the country, slash natural gas plant capacity in half, and block any new gas plants, all within the next six years.

“As I said in 2019 when Bloomberg last reinvigorated his crusade, it’s an absolute attack on our state, our families, our livelihoods, and it directly impacts north of 50,000 people collectively here in West Virginia,” said Chris Hamilton, President and CEO of the West Virginia Coal Association. “It’s un-American that someone would use their wealth to destroy our nation and state’s industrial base, sending West Virginians to the unemployment line while at the same time jeopardizing electric reliability and security in America.”

OP ED: Economic Development Efforts Should Include Coal

By: Chris Hamilton President & CEO West Virginia Coal Association

In a recent column by MetroNews Talkline Host Hoppy Kercheval, he quotes Mitch Carmichael, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce, as saying, “From 2017 to 2021…West Virginia generated $6.2 billion in private capital investment…The state generated $6.2 billion in 2022 alone. In one year, we did more than the previous years”.

Secretary Carmichael and the Department of Economic Development staff are to be commended for their tireless efforts to attract business to the state and their recent successes. It is our hope that all these economic development announcements come to fruition and create thousands of jobs for West Virginians throughout every corner of the state.

WV Coal Association Praises Governor Justice For Espousing Benefits of Coal During Chamber Business Summit

The West Virginia Coal Association, the state’s primary coal membership organization representing over 90 percent of state thermal coal production and 65 percent of metallurgical coal production, today praised Governor Jim Justice for featuring the startup of the Pleasants Power Station during his opening remarks at the WV Chamber Commerce Business Summit on Wednesday morning.  

During his remarks, Governor Justice announced the startup of the Pleasants Power Plant and raved about the significant contributions of coal and coal fired electric generation to the state, region, and country.

WV Coal Association Endorses Slate of Pro-Coal Candidates for 2024 Election

The West Virginia Coal Association, the state’s primary coal membership organization representing over 90 percent of state thermal coal production and 65 percent of metallurgical coal production, today announced the organization’s endorsements for the 2024 election cycle.

Chris Hamilton, President and Chief Executive Officer of the West Virginia Coal Association, said, “The 2024 state and federal election cycle is the most important in our industry’s history dating back before West Virginia become a state. Our industry is challenged like never before and our mere existence is threatened. We need political leaders who are willing to go the extra mile for our business and the 50,000 West Virginians who show up at a mine site or coal fired manufacturing facility every day. We will immediately go to work to boost our endorsed candidates' chances of prevailing in the Spring.” 

Hamilton announced the following endorsements: