The Herald-Dispatch

West Virginians understand that coal is an affordable and abundant source of energy. We also know that coal isn't just the backbone of our state, but it plays a vital role in our nation's economy.

Yet, despite the obvious benefits of coal, President Obama has waged a renewed war on the industry. He recently announced that he will be pursuing stringent regulations that could devastate our state. And if you aren't convinced that the president is waging a war on coal, look no further than his own climate adviser Daniel Schrag. He told the New York Times that "a war on coal is exactly what's needed."

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
End His Assault on our Nation’s Coal Mining Families

American coal creates 766,000 jobs, more than $52 billion in wages to support American families, 40 percent of the nation’s electric generation and is a basic requirement for the production of steel, yet President Obama has openly denounced coal, calling its use in the past a "mistake” -- an insult to the generations of coal miners who made America the greatest nation in the world. He has used executive orders to bypass Congress, imposing impossible standards that will raise the price of energy for all Americans.

More than 10,000 people stopped in or passed by the Friends of Coal exhibit at the Wheeling Cabela’s store June 26-29 as part of Cabela’s Hometown Heroes Celebration recognizing the contributions of coal miners, energy workers and active/retired military.

The Friends of Coal display was front and center at the entrance to the Cabela’s store.  Hundreds of people – area coal miners, energy workers and citizens from around the Tri-State region – signed up as a Friend of Coal.

Be on the lookout for a petition to the White House asking for a change in direction from the Obama administration’s treatment of America’s coal industry.  We are joining together with other state and national associations, Friends of Coal everywhere and citizens concerned about the actions recently taken by the Obama administration relative to the continued use of coal to generate electricity in the United States to initiate a petition under the White House’s “We the People” webpage.  This effort will require “all hands on deck” to participate and sign the petition because we must obtain a minimum number of signatures in order to require a response from the White House.  Details are being finalized and the step-by-step information will be forthcoming in the next few days.  Once received we will need to mobilize all our employees, families, friends and colleagues to sign the petition and insure we reach the threshold.

According to information released by the West Virginia Division of Commerce in February, West Virginia coal exports grew by 40 percent last year, increasing from $5.3 billion in 2011 to $7.4 billion in 2012.  West Virginia coal accounted for 49 percent of U.S. coal exports in 2012. 

The West Virginia Coal Forum – an organization representing both labor and management in the coal industry – will host a meeting to discuss the significance of coal exports to our state and national economies at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston.