Press
- Parent Category: News
OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. -- Alliance Coal made visible changes in Ohio County before starting up production at the Tunnel Ridge Mine last year. West Virginia's acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin got a firsthand look at those investments on Tuesday.
After a quick mine surface tour, Tomblin’s visit continued at Oglebay, where Alliance Coal officials touted the jobs and $295 million in investments they said the company’s made in the county.
- Parent Category: News
BEIJING, April 12 (Reuters) - Coal exports from the United States are expected to jump 70 percent in 2011 because of a supply squeeze in Asia-Pacific, while a weak dollar has made U.S. cargoes more attractive, top U.S. coal exporter Xcoal Energy & Resources said.
Total coal exports to Asia from the U.S. are expected to reach 20.1 million tons this year after impressive growth of 250 percent in 2010 over 2009, Xcoal Chief Executive Ernie Thrasher told an industry conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
Source: http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL3E7FB2MZ20110412
- Parent Category: News
CHARLESTON – The Friends of Coal and the West Virginia Coal Association join in urging everyone to exercise their rights and vote in the upcoming May 14 special gubernatorial primary election.
As much of the rest of the country struggles with multi-billion dollar deficits and unemployment rates approaching 10 percent, West Virginia has managed to balance its budget and keep its people working. Strong, effective leadership on the part of the governor and the Legislature, combined with the state’s coal industry has made this possible.
However our coal industry is under threat from an out-of-control Washington bureaucracy, this makes it even more important that we choose leaders who will continue to put West Virginia first – who will step up to the plate and defend our state’s bedrock industry.
If you are registered to vote, please vote on May 14. If you aren’t registered, you must register before April 25th if you plan to vote. If you are registered check and may be out of town on May 14, check with your county clerk about their early voting options in accordance with the following schedule:
- Last day to register to vote is April 25, 2011. For information on registering to vote, please click here.
- Early voting period will take place April 29th through May 11th (including Saturdays)
- Absentee ballot request deadline is May 9th
- Primary Election is May 14th.
Check your registration status and polling location here.
If you need to register, please click on this LINK and follow the process. Please exercise your democratic right and vote. Let your voice be heard!
- Parent Category: News
CHARLESTON -- The Friends of Coal is continuing its outreach efforts in print, broadcast and web media, as well as maintaining a presence at various events in the state:
PRINT:
- Work is beginning on the Friends of Coal’s annual insert section in The State Journal. The section will go to print sometime in late-July. If you have story ideas please contact us at 304.342.4153. We look forward to hearing from you.
BROADCAST:
- The Coal Seam television show’s new segment began broadcasting this week. The new segment features coverage of Gov. Tomblin’s unveiling of the new mine emergency response vehicle (MERV). The show features segments from the event as well as a discussion of the capabilities of the MERV.
INTERNET:
The FOC site saw over 2200 visitors for the month of March. The site had over 6400 page views along with 2.86 pages per visit. The site had 79 percent of its traffic from first time visitors. Over 54 percent of total traffic came from search engines. The site also saw visitors from over 25 countries and territories.
The WVCA website saw over 5100 visitors for the month of March. The site had over 11,800 page views coming in at 2.33 pages per visit. The site saw over 72 percent of its visitors being first time visitors with 80 percent of visitors coming directly from search engines. Lastly, the site saw visits from 77 countries and territories.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND TOURS
- The Friends of Coal continues to add new events, speaking engagements and meet with tour groups as part of its outreach efforts:
- WV Coal Association President Bill Raney made a presentation to the Coal River Council of the Holmes Safety Association annual meeting on Saturday, April 2nd at the Earl Ray Tomblin Convention Center at Chief Logan State Park.
- Raney also was on hand to deliver a dinner speech at the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute (KVMI) monthly meeting on Thursday evening, April 7th in South Charleston.
- Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton gave the closing presentation at the Wheeling Jesuit University’s Fourth Annual International Mining Health & Safety Symposium on Friday, April 8th in Charleston.
- This week, Association Vice President Jason Bostic met with members of Congressional delegation and their staffs regarding EPA actions on water quality.
- Parent Category: News
BECKLEY -- The Friends of Coal along with many other generous sponsors are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Friends of Coal Auto Fair beginning on July 15th and ending on July 17th, 2011.
The event will be held at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex in Beckley, WV and serves as a major fund raising event for the YMCA of Southern West Virginia. Because of all your help in the past, the YMCA was able to offer approximately 1000 free memberships to children in 2010. In addition to the free memberships, the YMCA of Southern West Virginia utilizes the funds raised by this event for supplies and upkeep of existing facilities which accommodated over 100,000 children last year.
This year’s event features hundreds of show cars along with concerts on both Friday and Saturday night. The Saturday night concert will feature both Little Big Town and Josh Turner. The Friday night concert will feature local groups and looks to be very entertaining.
Your assistance is greatly needed in support of this great community event that provides needed funds to the YMCA of Southern West Virginia. If you are interested in being a sponsor please contact Jay Rist at 304 252-0715.
ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDES: Saturday night concert featuring Little Big Town and Josh Turner
- Parent Category: News
BIRCH RIVER -- ICG Eastern will be holding its 5th annual Arbor Day celebration on Thursday, April 28, 2011 beginning at 10 a.m. at its Birch River operations. The event is always fun. Students from neighboring schools join staff and members of the community to plant hardwood trees on the site, and various related events are held in conjunction with the celebration.
If you have an Arbor or Earth Day celebration scheduled that you would like to include, please give us a call at304.342.4153.
- Parent Category: News
CHARLESTON – In a March 28 announcement, Governor Tomblin declared the week of April 18 – April 22, 2011 (10th Regional Coal Fair to be held at the Harless Community Center) Coal Education week in West Virginia, on Monday, March 28, 2011, at 11 am in the West Wing governor's reception room at the State Capitol.
Please Contact Georgene Robertson, CEDAR of Southern West Virginia, Inc. at 304/792-8433 for more information.
- Parent Category: News
Source: Seattle pi
By: Tim Huber, AP Business Writer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Life-saving airtight refuge chambers stored deep inside the Upper Big Branch mine when an explosion tore it apart and killed 29 miners worked properly when tested last week, West Virginia's mine safety chief said Wednesday.
The refuge's steel boxes opened and the chambers inflated as designed when they were tested deep inside the southern West Virginia coal mine, said C.A. Phillips, director of the state office of Miners' Health Safety and Training. Officials from West Virginia, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration and Richmond, Va.-based mine owner Massey Energy Co. conducted the tests last Thursday.
- Parent Category: News
Source: Charleston Gazette
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Coal company Alpha Natural Resources Inc. is donating $300,000 for energy and environmental sciences research at West Virginia University.
The gift announced Tuesday is expected to qualify for matching funds from the state Research Trust Fund, bringing the total value to $600,000.
Dean Gene Cilento says WVU will use the money to focus on all aspects of energy research, from extraction to use.
Mining department director Jim Dean says the gift will support health and safety research, too, including the integration of new technologies.
WVU recently trained Alpha's mine rescue teams at its Academy for Mine Training and Energy Technologies.
Alpha, based in Abingdon, Va., is one of the nation's largest coal operators.
It's in the midst of a $7.1 billion takeover of rival Massey Energy Co.