From the President’s Desk ...
The State of Coal
By BILL RANEY WVCA President
As we begin the second decade of the 21st Century, West Virginia’s coal industry faces a number of challenges but has in front of it the opportunity to be a catalyst for the future as our nation struggles to overcome a crippling economic recession.
I am confident our nation will overcome the challenges and re-assert itself as the vital center of our world’s economy.
If this recession has taught us anything, it is that we have to take the steps necessary to insulate our economy from the un- certainties around the world. We have to look to ourselves and rebuild our manufacturing base, rebuild our technology indus- try, improve our education system and our basic infrastructure. We also have to free ourselves from unreliable and expensive foreign sources of oil. We have to build a future that takes full advantage of our own resources -- particularly coal.
I see a future in which coal is recognized as our nation’s true “alternative fuel.” I see a future in which coal-to-liquids plants replace old oil refineries across the country. I see a future in which carbon capture and storage technology truly makes West Virginia coal a “green” fuel. And I see a future in which West Virginia is a leader in the development of these technologies and our people reap the benefits of our hard work.
I also see a new future for the coalfields -- one in which our coal industry is seen as an active partner in the development and diversification of the region’s economy. I see houses, shop- ping centers, parks, hospitals, schools and businesses taking root on our former surface mines, freeing our people from the constant threat of flooding and letting loose the pent-up entre- preneurial spirit that characterized our state for so long.
We can have a new West Virginia -- one that is a destination for families seeking opportunity and a better quality of life, and no longer loose our best and brightest to other states.
We can make this happen, but it takes coordination and planning. It takes commitment, a willingness to take chances and a vision for the future.
To truly make those opportunities come to fruition, we have to overcome some obstacles -- some of our own making and some imposed by others.
We have to come together as a people, see the potential and embrace a new vision for our state and region. And we have to turn aside the assault on coal and our way of life from those who would rob us of our future.
We have to let the folks in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and across this country know that West Virginia coal miners truly “keep their lights on” and without them they would either be sitting in the dark or watching their electric bills skyrocket.
We have to take the message of coal to the halls of Con- gress, to the White House and to the people of this nation.
Our future is in our hands. We can reach out, take control of our own destiny and create this new West Virginia -- this new Appalachian economy, or we can watch as that future is stolen from us by extremists, bureaucrats and their friends in Washington and in the mass media.
It’s not a fight we can afford to lose. It’s a fight for our future and our children’s futures.
Call Washington ... call the media ... let them know you are a Friend of Coal and that you won’t stand by and let them steal your future.