The historic 2015 Regular Legislative Session was adjourned sine die on Wednesday afternoon, following approval of the budget.  This year’s Session was truly historic with Republican leadership for the first time in more than 80 years and the first time that party had led in our current Capitol Building.  It was further notable for the unusually high number of bills passed that were positive to our members as well as businesses and industries across the state. 

United States Patent Application: 0140272734 Carbon Dioxide, as we might harvest from the exhaust gases produced during our economically essential use of Coal in the generation of abundant and affordable electric power, is a valuable energy resource. Carbon Dioxide can, in combination with Water, H2O, be used and consumed as the basic raw materials in the productive synthesis of hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. We have by now made numerous reports on the development, by our United States Department of Energy, of technology that is sometimes referred to as "syntrolysis", wherein, in what is often described as a "solid oxide fuel cell" run in reverse, Carbon Dioxide, CO2, and Water, H2O, are "co-electrolyzed" and broken down into their simpler constituents, i.e.: Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen and Oxygen. The solid oxide fuel cell, often just abbreviated "SOFC", thus becomes a solid oxide electrolyzer.

Senate Bill 357 contains major enhancements in mine safety and environmental law that will strengthen West Virginia’s laws by being more reflective of actual conditions and practices in today’s modern coal mines and will bring us more in line with the federal laws and regulations, as well as with the laws/regulations/practices in other coal producing states.  Specifically, there are five (5) mine safety provisions and six (6) agreed-to environmental provisions contained in the bill.  

According to the latest report from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) and the National Mining Association, coal production in the United States is down by slightly more than 1.5 million tons for the week ending March 7^th compared to the same time last year. Production for the week stood at 17.48 million tons compared to 18.99 million tons for the same week in 2014.  Cumulative production for the year- to-date is also down as of March 7^th to 174.17 million tons from 177.35 million tons last year.

At long last WV DMV has released the Friends of Coal Motorcycle license plate application which can be found at www.friendsofcoal.org.  The initial fee for the plate will be $56.00 with a annual renewal of $31.00.  Instructions for completing and submitting the applications are on the second sheet of the download.  Act fast and get a low license plate number.  If you have questions or need assistance give Sandi a call at 304.342.4153 or e-mail:  sdavison@wvcoal.com