The Federation for American Coal Energy and Security (FACES of Coal) announced they will be holding a Virginia Coal Rally at the Washington County Fairgrounds on June 2nd from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Rally is being billed as a celebration of Appalachian and Virginia Coal Jobs and will feature live entertainment as well as an open forum to highlight the importance of coal to Virginia and the country.
Confirmed participants include Virginia Senate candidate George Allen, Virginia Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Tennessee Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey. Invited speakers include Presidential Candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Virginia Senate candidate Tim Kaine, Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb. The rally is being coordinated with the Eastern Coal Council and includes participation from several Virginia and Appalachian based businesses.
"Coal is a huge part of Virginia's economy; whether it is in the coal fields, the ports in Hampton Roads or the affordable electricity Virginia businesses enjoy across the state, coal is a jobs creator," said Petrina Jones, executive director of Virginia FACES of Coal. "This rally is an opportunity for coal supporters to come together and send a message to Washington D.C. that the bureaucratic attacks on coal need to stop."
In recent months the EPA and the Obama Administration have made their mission to destroy the coal industry clear. Recent EPA released rules including the MACT Rule and GHG Emissions Rule will have devastating effects on Appalachian and Virginia coal mining operations. These actions come on the heels of the surface mining permit moratorium the Obama Administration's EPA placed over all of Appalachia.