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STATEMENT BY BILL RANEY, WV COAL ASSOCIATION, REGARDING EPA’S NEW SOURCE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

“EPA’s planned announcement this week of new source performance standards for new coal-fired power plants will hurt West Virginia jobs, our economy and may result in increased electric costs for consumers across this country.

These new rules are expected to stymie the construction of new, and the expansion of existing, coal-fired generating plants – the most dependable, reliable and lowest cost method of making electricity in America today.

If you can’t build new coal-fired power plants or expand the ones we have, EPA’s directly taking West Virginia coal jobs. What makes it worse is that the federal government has refused to determine the economic impact of these rules before they are promulgated! This negative attack is further magnified by efforts to reduce the fossil fuel and carbon control and sequestration budgets in the Department of Energy, which if anything, need to be maintained and increased!

When you look at these rules as a package and their arrogant behavior, there is no other conclusion to be drawn than this EPA and Administration are making good on its promise to put the industry out of business and take our peoples’ livelihoods. Millions of American jobs, as well as the economies of communities across this country, hang in the balance.

The West Virginia Coal Association is calling upon all congressional leaders who recognize that coal is a critical piece of this country’s energy plan and the provider of low cost, affordable electricity to put the brakes on this out-of-control EPA before the economic damage becomes irreversible. There is much more to be said on this issue, but Congress needs to act now.”

For additional information, contact the West Virginia Coal Association at (304) 342-4153.
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"Friends of Coal Coaches" Radio Show Debuts Monday

Former football coaches Don Nehlen (WVU) and Bob Pruett (Marshall) headline a new radio show that begins Monday on MetroNews affiliates.

The show will air from 7:06 to 8 p.m. each Monday through Nov. 25 on MetroNews affiliates across the state, including WCHS-AM (580) in Charleston and WRVC-AM (930) in Huntington.

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BIC Elects New Officers

The Business & Industry Council of West Virginia (BIC) elected the following officers for next year:  Chairman – Chris R. Hamilton, Senior Vice President of WVCA; First Vice Chairman, Joe Letnaunchyn, West Virginia Hospital Association; and, Second Vice Chairman, Mike Clowser, Contractors Association of WV.

BIC was founded in 1982 by a group of trade association executives interested in expanding the influence of business at the Capitol by working together on common issues.

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Friends of Coal Outreach Continues: WVCA Leaders Speak at Bluefield Coal Show

The 20th Biennial Bluefield Coal Show was held this week at the Brushfork Armory in Bluefield. The event featured the latest in mining technology, but this year it also included presentations by state and national coal leaders as the industry faces some of its most difficult challenges ever.

Featured among the speakers was West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney, who spoke about “pushing forward” through these difficult times. Raney said that despite the current problems he sees a bright future for the mining industry, both here in West Virginia and around the nation as the nation returns to its most dependable and affordable energy resource.

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WV National Hunting & Fishing Days

The Friends of Coal and Consol Energy are prominent sponsors of this year’s West Virginia National Hunting & Fishing Days Celebration, taking place September 28-29, 2013 at Stonewall Resort State Park, near Weston.

Recognized as our state’s main celebration of West Virginia’s outdoor and sporting heritage, we encourage all Friends of Coal to come out, bring their family and enjoy two days of outdoor activities and demonstrations by some of the world’s top outdoorsmen and women.