Leadership West Virginia, a leadership development program sponsored by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, held its annual coal session in Logan this past week. WVCA Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton took part in a panel discussion of the importance of coal to the state’s economy with a focus on the challenges faced by the industry today.
Joining Hamilton on the May 15 panel were: Kevin Craig, executive vice president of Natural Resource Partners, L.P.; David Ledford, president and CEO of the Appalachian Wildlife Foundation and Alan Stagg, president and principal economic geologist for Stagg Resource Consultants, Inc.
The group also toured Alpha Natural Resources’ Running Right Training Facility, the Highland Surface Mining Complex and the Logan County Airport, built on a former surface mine. In addition, the group heard a presentation by Appalachian Power Company President and COO Charles Patton on the EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) and its impact on the economy.