Thursday, a workshop explored the industry's future in both countries. It represents a partnership between the two countries, but also with the public and private sectors.
They're working toward reducing carbon emissions while keeping the lights on.
"In China, 70 percent of energy comes from coal," said Qinyung Sun, West Virginia's Assistant for China Affairs. "In the states, about 50 percent of electricity comes from coal. You know, in our state, not only employment, economics, education, everything relies on coal. That's why these similarities brought us together."
The partnership has been in the works for several years in government and business.
"As we look at what's going on into the future, we are seriously challenged by the way of using coal in a way that is environmentally sound and politically acceptable, socially acceptable," said Jerry Fletcher, the director of the U.S. - China Energy Center.
Presentations showed how energy companies in both countries are pushing the boundaries of coal technology, from coal to liquids, gasification, and even using excess carbon dioxide to farm algae for liquid fuels.
China recently announced their goal of reducing carbon emission per unit of gross domestic product between 40 percent to 45 percent from their levels in 2005 within the next 10 years, as one of the day's speakers referenced.
"One of the fascinating things about listening to the Chinese business people, government people is just to see the scope and scale of their development, and what's going on there," said Frank Palmer, with U.S.-based Peabody Energy.
There is also a lot of work going on in the United States, thanks to support from the government.
In a statement by Sen. Robert C. Byrd read at the workshop, he said:
"Together, our nations can tackle the problems of global climate change while making use of our abundant and secure domestic energy resources. However, if we do not adequately invest in the research and development needed to address these challenges in the coming decade; the environmental and financial costs will be enormous."
"We think it's possible," Fletcher said. "We know the technology is there, but it's going to take a great deal of time and a great deal of investment to bring it to fruition."
The conference continued Friday, with a look at ways governments and businesses can work together on moving technology and policy forward."
All the obligatory caveats were made, of course, with the required genuflections towards environmental consciousness and timorous economic conservatism . But, the essence of coal conversion industry is distilled in the words of Dr. Flethcher: