Gene Kitts, Alpha Natural Resources’ Senior Vice President for Environmental Affairs, and WVCA President Bill Raney joined federal and state political leaders Tuesday for a roundtable discussion of the federal government’s ‘War on Coal’ as well as some of the steps being taken to address the situation. The roundtable discussion was part of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Coal Symposium.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, III, D-WV, said coal has been through cycles throughout history, and usually coal has a partner to help get through the challenging times. “Right now, we don’t have a partner in Washington,” Manchin said.
Manchin moderated the seminar while U.S. Representatives Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., and Morgan Griffith, R-Va., as well as West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey provided their points of view, while Gene and Bill represented the concerns of the industry and its people.
Video coverage of the discussion was provided by WVVA-TV in Bluefield and is available on their website or clicking here.