Governor Tomblin Signs Coal Legislation
The Logan High School Fieldhouse is no stranger to crowds for homecoming and it was packed with students and the general public Tuesday as various elected officials participated with Governor Earl Ray Tomblin a Coal Forum focused on the impact of the EPA’s Climate Regulations on the state’s coal industry.
LOGAN PACKS FIELDHOUSE FOR COAL FORUM ON IMPACT OF EPA REGULATIONS - Governor Signs Bill Creating Framework for Protecting State Coal Jobs
LOGAN – The Logan High School Fieldhouse is no stranger to crowds for homecoming and it was packed with students and the general public Tuesday as various elected officials participated with Governor Earl Ray Tomblin a Coal Forum focused on the impact of the EPA’s Climate Regulations on the state’s coal industry. It was a homecoming of sorts for the Governor, a native of Logan County, who also used the event to formally sign HB 4346, passed during the recent Legislative session, that provides a framework for the state to protect our coal jobs. The event was a joint effort of the West Virginia Coal Forum and the Logan Chamber of Commerce. The WV Coal Forum is an organization representing both labor and management in the coal industry.
Special recognition was given to area legislators who were instrumental in the passage of House Bill 4346 – Delegates Rupie Phillips and Teddy Tomblin of Logan, as well as Senator Art Kirkendoll of Logan.
LHS Principal Kelly Stanley welcomed those in attendance before Coal Forum Co-Chair and along with West Virginia Coal Association Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton opened the event.
One of the forum’s primary focuses was to make the public aware of potential federal Environmental Protection Agency rules that will apparently be detrimental to West Virginia’s coal-fired power plants.
The West Virginia Coal Association says EPA air emission regulations have helped usher the closure or planned closure of nearly 400 coal generating units across the country. The association's vice president says the EPA isn't trying to hide its true agenda.
In his remarks, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall said, “I stand with each and every one of you as a defender of coal, a fighter for coal jobs, and a warrior for the future of coal-fired power in America. I staunchly oppose the EPA’s bull-headed actions against coal. I am in this battle for the long-haul, and don’t let anyone — anyone — tell you different.”"It's no joke they want to shut it down," Delegate Phillips, (D-Logan). "If we continue to let them shut it down our power bills are going to triple, our jobs are going to be lost. Gas can't maintain the power grid up to the level it needs to be."
Remarks followed by State Senators Art Kirkendoll and Ron Stollings. Kirkendoll, of Logan County, expressed concern that “we do not even use a majority of W.Va. coal here in this state. We can buy it cheaper from Pennsylvania and transport it here. That’s wrong.”
Stollings said he and the House of Delegates delegation from Southern W.Va. “represent the coal team in Charleston, along with Governor Tomblin. Congressman Rahall and Senator Manchin are on the team in Washington.”
House of Delegates Majority Leader Harry Keith White of Mingo County spoke next, also praising the legislative and congressional delegations. “We’re all pro-coal,” he said. White particularly noted the efforts of fellow delegates Ted Tomblin and Justin Marcum.
Delegate Rupie Phillips of Logan County told the crowd of his legislative license plate: “Coal Del.” He added, “some people in Charleston don’t like it when they see that but I am the coal delegate. “
Tomblin then spoke about his devotion to W.Va. coal and told the students, “as you look to future occupations, there are problems in the coalfields, but there are problems elsewhere as well.” He urged the students to “give serious consideration to your coal history.”
The governor also noted that another coalfield delegate, Jeff Eldridge of Lincoln County, has been instrumental “in the fight to slow down the EPA.”
Tomblin also said, “You don’t know how close we were, the past cold winter, to having power outages all over the place. America needs West Virginia coal.”
The governor then moved to an adjacent table where he ceremoniously signed the bill designed to help W.Va. coal with EPA administered emission regulations.
Michael Browning represented U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, who could not attend.
Following a brief break, the session evolved into roundtable discussion groups headed primarily be the legislators in attendance.
Governor holds ceremonial bill signing to create a framework for how the state can deal with federal guidelines for clean air while protecting coal. -JOE STEVENS / THE MEDIA CENTER
LOGAN — It seemed somewhat ironic Tuesday that at the same time coal supporters were holding a forum on the importance of the industry at Logan High School, President Barack Obama was meeting at the White House with scientists on climate change and how to further deal with carbon emissions.
What was just a coincidence wasn’t lost on West Virginia Coal Association Vice President Chris Hamilton.
“They are promoting the Climate Plan while we are here promoting a bill that’s aimed to mitigate the devastation from the president’s climate plan,” Hamilton said.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin previously signed HB 4346 into law but did it again Tuesday as part of the ceremony.
“It establishes a framework for the state to begin to design and develop its compliance plan (with federal regulations) but at the same time relying on traditional base fuels here in West Virginia,” Hamilton said.
The third National Climate Assessment unveiled at the White House said climate change was here and now. The report said West Virginia could be in for significant heat waves in the years to come.
“Under both emissions scenarios, the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves is expected to increase, with larger increases under higher emissions. Much of the southern portion of the region, including the majority of Maryland and Delaware, and southwest West Virginia and New Jersey, are projected by mid-century to experience more than 60 additional days per year above 90°F compared to the end of last century under continued increases in emissions (A2 scenario). This will affect the region’s vulnerable populations, infrastructure, agriculture, and ecosystems,” the report said.
National media reports said Tuesday President Obama would use the latest assessment to further address emission issues while bypassing Congress to get it done.
Back in Logan Hamilton maintained coal would still have to play a role in the nation’s energy future.
“Somebody has to embark on a more commonsense approach and utilize these resources we have,” he said.
More coal-fired power plants are scheduled to close in the next year in West Virginia and the Obama administration’s EPA will release new emission standards for existing power plants in the months ahead. Hamilton said the recent winter was proof the generating capacity is still needed.
“We just narrowly escaped this winter with being able to meet our energy needs,” he said. “Now if we have the same type of winter next year when we are beginning to take these power generators off line, who knows what we will experience.”
The National Climate Assessment is mandated by Congress to be published every four years.
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