The WV Coal Forum, in conjunction with multiple local, regional and national partners, will host a series of five meeting across the state throughout the remainder of the year highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing West Virginia’s coal and energy sectors.  The series of educational and informational events will bring attention to the impact of U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan, state and federal environmental regulations and strategies for confronting these critical issues head on.

            Tentative Meeting Dates:

            Tuesday, June 9, 2015 – Charleston, WV – 8:30 a.m. to Noon – Embassy Suites

            Thursday, July 23 – Bluefield, WV – 9 a.m. to Noon – Quality Hotel & Conference Center

            Tuesday, August 18 – Wheeling, WV – 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Oglebay Resort & Conference Center

            TENTATIVE – Wednesday, September 23 – Summersville, WV – 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – Summersville Armory

            TENTATIVE – Wednesday, October 28 – Morgantown, WV – 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Waterfront Place Hotel and Conference Center

At the May 21 Tug Valley Mining Institute’s dinner meeting, six 2015 scholarship recipients were named.  Two $6,000 scholarships were awarded to Erika Coleman and Caroline Hatfield, both of Belfry High School.  Four $750 scholarships were awarded to Benjamin Fitch & Aaron Tackett of Sheldon Clark, and Adriana Fleming of Logan High School and Olivia Ooten of Tug Valley.  Congratulations to these students.

Gary White, past WVCA President and Board Member and Interim President of Marshall University was the speaker and discussed the new Engineering Facility at Marshall, which was partly funded by donations from several mining related firms, including J. H. Fletcher and Art Weisberg, founder of State Electric. 

WVCA President Bill Raney and Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton joined Eugene White, Director of the WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training, to present two Murray American Energy operations with the state’s top safety awards at ceremonies held May 20^th. 

Murray American Energy’s Marshall County Mine, Marshall County Mine Loadout facility was awarded the Mountaineer Guardian Award for 2014 and Murray American Energy’s  Harrison County Mine was presented the Eustace E. Frederick Milestones in Safety Award for 2014.

“There is nothing more important to our members than the safety of their people,” Raney said. “These two operations have distinguished themselves in maintaining the highest standards of safety.”

Upper Ohio Valley residents have launched the Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance to support local coal industry jobs.

The State Journal reports the mission of the alliance involves energy, manufacturing, construction and other industries working together to create jobs.

Alliance President Bruce Whipkey says the struggling coal mining industry is integral to the region’s economy and that citizens need to fight for it. He said the recent announcements of more than 2,000 layoffs accentuates the importance of this initiative and that these layoffs will affect thousands of other jobs that support the coal industry and will hurt local tax revenue.

Learn more at http://www.ohiovalleyjobs.org.

West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney took part in a panel discussion and presentation at the annual North American Coalbed Methane Forum May 21 in Canonsburg, PA.  Raney discussed the current state of the coal industry in West Virginia, spotlighting some of the major challenges the industry faces in the current regulatory climate. 

Raney said West Virginia coal miners were able to overcome these pressures in 2014, actually showing a slight increase in production despite significant layoffs, mine closures and permitting issues.

Joining Raney was the leaders of coal associations in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania.  Robert Murray, President and CEO of Murray Energy was the keynote speaker pointing out the challenges faced by the industry going forward.