Press
- Parent Category: News
By: Chris Hamilton, President & CEO WV Coal Association
West Virginia historically has enjoyed among the lowest cost electric rates in the country, a trend which continues today despite universal higher energy costs.
The fact that West Virginia relies heavily on coal based electric generation is the primary reason West Virginians have a lower base rate than the majority of Americans.
Generation from existing coal assets in West Virginia can be as much as 50% less expensive than buying power in the wholesale electricity market or the power produced by generating sources other than coal.
Read more: OP ED: West Virginia relies heavily on coal based electric generation
- Parent Category: News
CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ A new study on the economic impact of America's coal industry shows that even when facing the worst regulatory pressures in history, the mining and coal-fired power generation industries still generated nearly $261 billion in economic activity and upwards of 381,000 jobs for American workers and their families.
(https://business.wvu.edu/research-outreach/bureau-of-business-and-economic-research).
“Coal and coal-fired electric power has always been a major driver behind our nation’s economy, and this study clearly demonstrates that not only is coal the bedrock of our economy, but it is also a key component of our countries’ electric manufacturing and steelmaking future,” said West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton.
The study, conducted by the West Virginia University Bureau for Business and Economics Research (BBER), shows that the mining industry alone spends more than $10.6 billion on wages nationally and coal operators generated approximately $43.5 billion in economic activity in 2021.
The top ten coal producing states mined over 527 million short tons (mt) of coal in 2021 and are ranked by production as follows: WY (239.2 mt); WV (78.6 mt), PA (42.4 mt), IL (36.8 mt), MT (28.6 mt), KY (26.6 mt), ND (26.5 mt), IN (19.5 mt), TX (17.3 mt), and UT (12.3 mt).
"Wyoming alone accounts for 45% of our nation’s coal production and when combined with the output of other western states, it becomes obvious that coal and coal-fired electric generation supports a big piece of America’s economy and job base” said Vern Lund, CEO of Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC). “The number of high paying jobs associated with the production, the transportation sector and local suppliers and contractors is irreplaceable.”
Joe Craft, CEO of Alliance Resources said, “Given the results of this study and the contribution of our nation’s coal plants to grid security and resiliency, and homeland security, it’s inconceivable that policy makers in Washington want to see these facilities close prematurely or transition away from the use of coal”. “Coal is a valuable feed stock for electricity manufacturing and provides a dependable revenue stream for a large number of state governments throughout America.”
Dr. John Deskins, Director of the West Virginia University Bureau of Business & Economic Research, said, “Despite production declines in recent years, coal remains a very important part of America's economy, as illustrated in our research. Coal continues to support a sizeable share of the nation's economic output and thousands of high-paying jobs.” Dr. Deskins noted that the total economic impact of coal mining does not end at the mine – it goes far beyond the portal and upstream through the economy.
In 2021, coal-fired power plants across the U.S. generated 899.0 million megawatt hours of electricity. This activity generated $217.5 billion in direct and secondary outputs in the United States economy, resulting in a total employment impact of 245.3 thousand jobs and $33.3 billion in labor income impact.
Jimmy Brock, CEO of CONSOL Energy noted these facilities are responsible for a big piece of the economy as they continue to “provide low cost, uninterrupted power to tens of millions of families across the country”. “Coal is the necessary ingredient that ensures the reliability of household and industrial power supplies which are required to maintain the quality of life we enjoy as Americans”.
Rich Nolan, President, and CEO National Mining Association: “At a time when energy-driven inflation is weighing heavily on all Americans and electricity grids are being stretched to their limits, the coal industry’s significance has never been greater, providing high-paying direct and indirect jobs for Americans, economic benefits for communities across the country, the fuel for affordable and reliable energy, and metallurgical coal for steelmaking.”
America’s Coal Associations are supportive of an all of the above energy strategy but believes the United States should not be trading one energy job for another or unnecessarily shorten the life of these foundational contributors to our economy and industrial job base.
Highlights from the study include:
- Coal mining and coal-fired electric power generated approximately $261 billion in total economic activity in the U.S. in 2021.
- Coal mining and coal-fired electric power generation supported nearly 381,000 jobs nationally with 29,674 jobs in WV, 15,852 in IN, 13,735 in TX, 13,418 in IL, 12,266 in KY 7,027 in UT, and 3,895 in MT.
- Coal mining and coal-fired electric power generation provided around $43.8 billion in employee compensation. Coal mining offers some of the highest average annual wages among all industries.
- Coal mining and coal-fired electric power generated nearly $8.1 billion in state and local tax revenue nationally.
America’s Coal Associations include Alabama Mining Association, Kentucky Coal Association, Illinois Coal Association, Ohio Coal Association, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, Reliable Energy Inc., Rocky Mountain Mining Institute, Texas Mining and Reclamation Association, Montana Coal Association, Utah Mining Association, Wyoming Mining Association, and National Mining Association.
For information or to request a copy of the full report, please contact Bryan Brown at the West Virginia Coal Association, (304) 342-4153
- Parent Category: News
Charleston, W.Va. - - C. Haley Bunn was sworn in as the newest Justice on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals during a ceremony Thursday in Charleston. “Justice Bunn” is the wife of prominent Charleston energy lawyer Joe Bunn, and the daughter-in-law of former WVCA Chairman and long-time Board Member Jim Bunn.
“Haley Bunn is a wonderful West Virginia story,” said Governor Justice. “She’s a coal miner’s daughter and a daughter of Southern West Virginia who’s committed her life to serving her state and her community. She’s from Wyoming County, where the opioid epidemic hit as hard as it has anywhere in America, and she decided to devote much of her career to fighting that epidemic. Haley’s also a seasoned courtroom veteran whose experience as an elite litigator will be invaluable on our Supreme Court of Appeals.”
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. ─ During the Joint Spring meeting with the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute, which took place April 19-20 in Morgantown, the West Virginia Coal Association recognized and celebrated “Exemplary Mine Safety & Environmental Excellence” achievements of mining industry operations across the state.
“West Virginia’s coal industry continues to show its resilience and commitment to excellence across the board,” WVCA President Chris Hamilton said. “It’s always a proud day for us when we can recognize those who excel in safety and reclamation, showing that the best and brightest in the industry are right here in West Virginia.”
Read more: State Mining Companies, Operations Recognized for Excellence in Safety and Reclamation
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Charleston, W.Va. - - The West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, a joint initiative between the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute and the West Virginia Coal Association and housed at the WVU Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in Morgantown, inducted its newest class of honorees at a ceremony Tuesday evening, April 19th, at the Marriott at Waterfront Place in Morgantown.
This year’s honorees include R. Donald Cussins, former President of Buffalo Coal Company; Pramod Thakur, President of Expert Solutions for Mine Safety and longtime senior executive for CONSOL Energy, LLC; Doug Hardman, former Vice Chairman, J.H. Fletcher & Co.; and George Schuller, President of Peabody Australia and Chief Operating Officer of Compass Minerals.
- Parent Category: News
By
Chris Hamilton, President & CEO
WV Coal Association
(304) 342-4153
chamilton@wvcoal.com
President Joe Biden and his liberal allies have not hidden their desire to use any means necessary to enact their radical Green New Deal social agenda.
Biden has nominated a slew of agency appointees who have openly said they would use their agency power to enact rigorous anti-fossil fuel climate policies. Meanwhile, his Special Presidential Envoy on Climate, John Kerry, has reportedly been pressuring big banks to cut off financing and divest from coal, oil, and natural gas companies. We are in the middle of an energy crisis in this country, and one needs only to look to what’s going on right now in Europe to see the dangers of what could happen when you let radical social activists cut off reliable sources of energy.
Read more: OP ED: Banking Bill Essential to Fight Woke Capitalists
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Charleston, W.Va. – Chris Hamilton, President and CEO of the West Virginia Coal Association offered the following statement following Monday’s oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in West Virginia v Environmental Protection Agency:
“This case is about reining in the unchecked power of federal agencies, and specifically the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
- Parent Category: News
CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Coal Association presented it annual legislative program to state lawmakers, highlighting the mining industry’s vision for coal and coal mining as part of the states’ energy and economic future.
The Association outlined a dozen issues that would help the industry better defend against President Biden and future climate attacks and to incentivize the industry to capitalize on the strong market for coal.
Read more: West Virginia Coal Association Announces Annual Legislative Program
- Parent Category: News
Charleston, W.Va. – Chris Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of the West Virginia Coal Association offers the following statement regarding U.S. Senator Joe Manchin’s position on the Build Back Better Act:
“On behalf of West Virginia’s coal miners and our energy economy, I applaud U.S. Senator Joe Manchin for his decision to vote no on the Build Back Better Act should it come before the Senate in 2022.
In the face of incredible pressure, Senator Manchin remained true to his West Virginia values and the bedrock common sense we all share here in the Mountain State.
Make no mistake, the Build Back Better Act is an attempt by Senator Bernie Sanders, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and congressional extremists to insert the ‘green new deal’ into an already bloated federal budget bill.
In defending his position, Senator Manchin said “If enacted, the bill will also risk the reliability of our electric grid and increase our dependence on foreign supply chains. We have invested billions of dollars into clean energy technologies so we can continue to lead the world in reducing emissions through innovation.” We couldn’t say it any better!
Senator Manchin’s position ensures that fossil energy will continue, at least for now, to provide energy independence and energy security for America, and significant economic value to West Virginia and our citizens.”
For additional information, contact Chris Hamilton at (304) 342-4153.
