U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has been a tireless advocate of the coal industry. Now, she has a forum through which to provide more influence on energy policy.
Capito has been appointed as a member of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
We hope House leaders - who have made their dislike of coal obvious - did not merely appoint Capito as window-dressing for the panel. Her views are important. And, whether liberals in Congress like them or not, Capito is right to insist that coal needs to be a major part of national energy policy.
No doubt she will encounter substantial opposition as she explains why that is so - but we do not expect Capito to back down. We encourage her to be a strong voice for coal. More important, we urge her peers in Congress to listen to what she has to say.
The Wheeling News-Register
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