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For more than a century, America’s coal industry has powered our homes, forged our steel, and fueled our prosperity. It has been the backbone of industrial growth and a symbol of American strength, self-reliance, and hard work. Even today — after nearly two decades of relentless political and regulatory assault — coal remains one of this nation’s most valuable resources, sustaining hundreds of thousands of jobs and keeping electricity affordable and reliable for millions of families.

Coal mining and the industries that depend directly on it employ more than 400,000 Americans. That figure includes approximately 130,000 miners, technicians, engineers, and plant operators working in extraction, preparation, and transport — and more than 270,000 additional workers in sectors that rely on coal as their lifeblood: railroads, barge lines, equipment manufacturers, utilities, steelmakers, and the communities that serve them. Together, they form one of the most productive, disciplined, and technically advanced workforces in the nation.

The economic reach of this workforce is immense. When you combine wages, benefits, and tax contributions, America’s coal industry generates more than $300 billion in annual economic impact. Coal miners themselves earn average wages exceeding $90,000 per year — nearly double the national average. Those paychecks sustain rural counties, small towns, and entire regions from Appalachia to the Powder River Basin. The taxes paid by coal companies and their employees — federal, state, and local — contribute an estimated $12 billion each year, funding schools, highways, and essential public services across multiple states. In places like West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, coal doesn’t just provide jobs — it provides the foundation for life itself.

And that foundation extends far beyond the communities where coal is mined. Nearly one-third of America’s electricity still comes from coal, providing the baseload generation that keeps the grid stable when wind and solar can’t meet demand. Without coal, our energy system would be far more expensive, far less reliable, and far more dependent on foreign imports. At a time when families are struggling under inflation and high utility bills, coal remains the most abundant, reliable, and affordable source of energy ever discovered — and the only one capable of sustaining industrial-scale steel production.

Steel, the backbone of modern civilization, cannot be produced without metallurgical coal. Every skyscraper, bridge, railcar, and ship in America depends on it. Our nation’s defense systems rely on it. Our ability to rebuild infrastructure, strengthen supply chains, and reindustrialize the nation all hinge on one truth: without coal, America stops building.

Despite its essential role, our industry has endured nearly twenty years of political persecution. Beginning under the Obama administration and continuing under President Biden, federal regulators have weaponized the rulemaking process to wage an ideological war against coal. The Clean Power Plan, Waters of the U.S. rule, endless permitting delays, and duplicative environmental reviews have been used not to improve safety or reduce emissions, but to deliberately dismantle the coal sector and the communities that depend upon it.

These weren’t policy differences — they were acts of economic sabotage aimed squarely at working-class Americans. Yet through it all, our miners and companies adapted, innovated, and persevered. We modernized our operations, improved environmental performance, and maintained the highest safety standards in the world. The result is an industry that is leaner, cleaner, and more efficient than at any point in its history — and still irreplaceable.

Today, under the leadership of the President who declared America must once again achieve “energy dominance,” there is new hope. His administration has recognized what others denied — that energy security is national security, and that reliable baseload power is not a luxury, but a necessity. Through executive orders supporting domestic production, regulatory reform, and infrastructure investment, this President has reaffirmed coal’s rightful place as part of America’s energy future. He understands that we cannot remain a free and prosperous nation if we surrender our energy independence to the whims of global markets or the control of foreign adversaries.

Read more: America’s Coal Industry: Still powering the nation, worth defending

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In his op-ed published Friday in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Brian Dayton of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce argues that natural gas is a cheaper base fuel for electric generation. Unfortunately, his claims rely on selective data, flawed comparisons, and a misunderstanding of how power systems actually work.

Let’s start with the data. Dayton cherry-picks six states from the PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization that actually spans 13 states. By narrowing his focus, he crafts a misleading narrative. Even using his limited snapshot, West Virginia’s electric rates remain among the lowest of our neighboring states. When the full 13-state PJM footprint is considered, the disparity becomes even clearer. And when comparing all states east of the Mississippi River, West Virginia ranks second overall for affordability—proof that coal-fired generation continues to deliver reliable, low-cost power.

Read more: WV Coal Association Response to Brian Dayton of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce

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The West Virginia Coal Association applauds United States Senate Republicans for declaring October 19-25 as National Coal Week. The Resolution pays tribute to the men and woman who mine coal and cited the importance of coal-fired generation and coal-to-steel technologies as the bedrock fuel behind the U.S. economy and our country’s national security.

Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association, saluted the action of the U.S. Senate Republicans and reinforced his appreciation for miners across America who are the face of our nation’s most reliable and diverse fuel source and work every day to provide for their families.

Read more: WV Coal Association Applauds U.S. Senate Republicans For Resolution Naming October 19-25 National...

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Senate Republicans introduced a resolution Monday declaring “Coal Week,” as the climate-change movement’s least-favorite energy source enjoys a rebound under the Trump administration.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming was joined by fellow Republicans from Alaska, Utah and West Virginia in sponsoring the resolution that cheers on President Trump for boosting coal after years of opposition under Democratic presidents.

“For years, the Biden and Obama administrations waged a relentless war on American coal, killing jobs, undermining our communities and driving up energy costs for everyday Americans,” Ms. Lummis said. “Under President Trump’s pro-energy leadership, we are fighting back and reversing that destructive agenda."

Read more: Republicans declare ‘Coal Week’ as Trump administration leads fossil-fuel comeback

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Charleston, WV – Today, Monday, October 6th, 2025, the West Virginia Republican Party was joined by the West Virginia Coal Association, Attorney General JB McCuskey, and nearly forty members of the West Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate for a press conference at the State Capitol Lower Rotunda in Charleston to highlight President Donald J. Trump’s new investment and policy initiatives supporting West Virginia’s coal industry.

Read more: The West Virginia Republican Party, West Virginia Coal Association, and Elected Officials Host...