According to the EIA’s latest weekly report, coal production nationwide continues to steepen its decline, down 0.8 percent while West Virginia’s weekly production has dropped 1.0 percent for the year ending 2/26/12. Compare that to just last week when nationwide production was down 0.5 percent while West Virginia’s coal production was down 0.8 percent year over year and two weeks ago when demand was off just 0.3 percent nationally and 0.5 percent for West Virginia year over year.

Two factors are causing the decline, a drop in demand as the nation’s utilities work through stockpiles of coal left from a mild winter and for met coal due to the economic uncertainties around the world, as well as regulatory uncertainty caused by the EPA’s on-going assault on coal.

The West Virginia Coal Association and Friends of Coal web presence continues to expand. According to the latest reports, the Association website (www.wvcoal.com) saw 6,401 visits for the month of February, with 15,485 page views. Visitors to the site included people from 112 countries and approximately 74 percent were new visitors.

Meanwhile, the Friends of Coal website (www.friendsofcoal.org) saw 3,252 visits with 7,793 page views. This included visitors from 54 countries with approximately 79 percent being first-time visitors.

Planning is underway for this year’s WV Coal Association’s State Journal insert. This special publication will print in late-July. It is a great opportunity to get the message out that coal is and will remain the economic bedrock of the state’s economy. This past year’s edition included production, employment, coal severance data, membership profiles, editorial features and other key information.

The annual West Virginia coal industry section insert in the Charleston newspapers publishes this Sunday, March 4. As you are probably aware, the Charleston Gazette readers seldom hear the industry’s perspective of the issues confronting the state today.

This year’s edition will feature production and employment data, coal severance and taxation data, as well as articles and features on various coal-related topics.

Friends of Coal sponsored events are as follows and would welcome participation as far as trophy presentations.

*  March 10 – Girl’s Basketball State Championship 12:00 – 3:30 & 9 p.m. – Charleston                                        Civic Center

*  March 17 – Boy’s Basketball State Championship – 12:00 – 3:30 & 9 p.m. – Charleston                                    Civic Center

Please let the Association know if you have an interest in awarding trophies at any of these events representing the Friends of Coal.

A special thanks to Jimmy Bunn, II for handing out awards at the State Wrestling Competition in Huntington last weekend.