Press
- Parent Category: News
It is unconscionable to me that West Virginians anywhere could be so unwilling to accept the fact that coal built this state, and will continue to build it’s future, that they would stoop to protesting the Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary’s Coal in the Classroom program. My bet is, as with most environmental socialists, that they are not West Virginians at all, but transplants from another state. And to have the unmitigated gall to complain about “indoctrination” of our children, when these environmental socialists have been “indoctrinating” our children to their misguided and evil plans for the future of our nation for the last three decades at least, they are showing just how small-minded and vile they really are.
Mr. Webb should shut his mouth while his brain is disengaged for a change, and learn to accept the fact this nation simply cannot afford to pay for the socialist agenda, be it in the environmental arena or the political arena. Kudos to the Raleigh County Board of Education for their fair and balanced mindset for allowing our children to begin to see the real picture, and I hope they have the fortitude, which I doubt, to stand up to these repugnant environmental socialists and continue to allow our children to see the real world, and learn where our power really comes from.
Larry Hanna Jr.
Renick
Our Readers Speak — Dec. 31, 2009
Beckley Register-Herald
- Parent Category: News
The link is to a video of Mr. John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel, who presents a compelling argument for his love of the planet and the facts that demonstrate carbon dioxide is not causing "Global Warming."
- Parent Category: News
During this holiest of seasons, the Friends of Coal would like to wish all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and a joyous, safe and secure New Year!
We want to take the time to thank God for all the blessings he has bestowed on our nation and our people. He has given us so many gifts and poured his bounty upon us all.
We want to thank our military men and women for the sacrifice they give willingly to afford us the freedoms we enjoy. We ask that a loving God bring them home when their work is done.
We want to thank you for all the support you have given us this past year. It has been a trying year – but we have faced it together and we will make it through, more united and more determined than ever.
We want to take a moment to remember those who have passed from our rolls this year and be thankful for the proud legacy they provided for our future.
We want to always remember those in need ... to reach out and extend our bounty to those less fortunate.
Let us join as one to welcome the New Year and with it a new beginning – a rebirth of freedom and a renewal of hope.
- Parent Category: News
The Register-Herald
By The Associated Press
Lumps of coal in a Christmas stocking would normally make a child cry.
But an eight-year-old Louisiana girl has had visions of coal dancing her in head. She will wake up this morning to find West Virginia coal under her tree — coal she actually requested from Santa Claus.
Moss Bluff, La., resident Randy Perkins said his eight-year-old daughter Devan learned about the benefits of coal — like how it provides heat and electricity for so many people’s homes. Devan fell in love with coal so much that she asked for it for her Christmas present — telling Santa Claus to forget about the toys for which she had asked.
- Parent Category: News
The Wall Street Journal
By Nigel Lawson
The world's political leaders, not least President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Gordon Brown, are in a state of severe, almost clinical, denial. While acknowledging that the outcome of the United Nations climate-change conference in Copenhagen fell short of their demand for a legally binding, enforceable and verifiable global agreement on emissions reductions by developed and developing countries alike, they insist that what has been achieved is a breakthrough and a decisive step forward.
Just one more heave, just one more venue for the great climate-change traveling circus—Mexico City next year—and the job will be done.
Or so we are told. It is, of course, the purest nonsense. The only breakthrough was the political coup for China and India in concluding the anodyne communiqué with the United States behind closed doors, with Brazil and South Africa allowed in the room and Europe left to languish in the cold outside.
- Parent Category: News
ACTION ALERT!
Radicals try to silence Ladies Auxiliary’s “Coal in the Classroom” Series
Please contact the Beckley Register-Herald and show your support for coal
(Read the story below) or go to this link: http://www.register-herald.com/archivesearch/local_story_349224151.html
We urge you to contact the Beckley Register-Herald and register your support for the use of the Ladies’ Auxiliary “Coal in the Classroom” curriculum. Let them know our children deserve a balanced perspective of our state’s primary industry.
Read more: ACTION ALERT! - Radicals try to silence Ladies Auxiliary’s “Coal in the Classroom” Series
- Parent Category: News
By George Hohmann
The Charleston Daily Mail Business Editor
ROANOKE - The senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association said that if energy independence and national security are at the apex of the nation's energy agenda, "we think positive things will follow.
"But when you start with items such as cap-and-trade legislation, expanding the energy portfolio to unrealistic quantities and focusing on climate change, all that follows will be negative and restrictive for coal and your basic industries."
- Parent Category: News
Charleston Gazette - Op/Ed by Roger Nicholson - November 30, 2009
The Gazette's coverage of the meeting between Gov. Manchin and other governmental leaders and some coal industry officials on Nov. 10 was noteworthy in a couple of respects.
First, anti-mining activist Judy Bonds candidly revealed the true extreme agenda of groups like the Sierra Club and the Coal River Mountain Watch. Bonds expressly stated the desire for a complete federal takeover of our state government, when she said, "the federal government needs to come in and take over the state of West Virginia, all the way from the governor to the dog catcher."
It is rare indeed when anti-mining advocates reveal their true aims, and Bonds' candid comment is quite telling. Unfortunately, most of the pronouncements from anti-mining groups twist the facts and weave tales designed to lure high-profile liberal foundations and Hollywood stars to join their single-minded pursuit.
Oft-repeated myths propounded by these groups include:
· Claims that neither they nor the Obama EPA seek to ban underground mining. In truth, the EPA has targeted 79 permits for "enhanced review" and potential veto, including deep-mining related permits. Moreover, environmental activists are stridently contesting a deep-mining permit in Northern West Virginia that would create 300 new jobs.
· Claims that wind projects can effectively replace coal mining jobs. To the contrary, each surface mining operation will typically employ more than 100 people for several years at wages exceeding $60,000 annually with excellent benefit packages. Wind projects involve short-term construction work followed by a handful of maintenance workers.
· Claims that coal currently being surface-mined can be mined by underground methods instead. One need only read Gene Kitts' excellent post, "Why We Surface Mine" on the Coal Tattoo blog (link online: http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2009/07/23/special-guest-blog-exclusive-why-surface-mine/ ), to understand the economic foundation for surface mining.
The other interesting point from the Gazette's coverage was Congressman Nick Rahall's continued insistence that Obama's EPA is just "doing its job." EPA's actions (and inaction) belie Rep. Rahall's stubbornly held view.
Consider the following:
· In the spring of 2009, the EPA publicly stated that there was no moratorium on the issuance of Section 404 permits generally necessary for both surface- and deep-mining operations. Since that announcement, a grand total of two individual permits have been issued by the Army Corps of Engineers in West Virginia. The EPA may not call this a moratorium, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... well, you know the rest.
· In June 2009, EPA announced the framework for a new "enhanced review" of existing permit applications and promised timely review. Since then, as of Nov. 9, enhanced review has begun on only five of the 79 permits.
At that rate, it will take years for affected coal producers to receive feedback on their permits.
· EPA is attempting to revoke a long-issued Arch Coal permit for an active surface-mining operation. That permit underwent a multi-year environmental impact study, which EPA then accepted, but the government now seeks to renege on its prior approval.
· EPA's "job" appears to be implementing the goals of the Pelosi and Reid wing of the Democratic Party to end mining and consumption of coal.
Any business, particularly a capital-intensive one, needs to know the rules and have the assurance that those rules won't change day-to-day. Ken Ward says there's no permitting crisis; he's wrong. Just because the large publicly traded companies have been able to adjust their business plans to avoid major disruptions doesn't mean a crisis does not exist. Ask the smaller independent operators, who typically have no choice but to shut down when their next permit is blocked, if there's a crisis in the coalfields.
If a bridge is out, you don't drive full-speed in the hope that the bridge will be there when you arrive. The bridge is out. Those of us who rely on the coal industry for our livelihoods, our electricity and our quality of life should demand that our government agencies and our elected officials heed our concerns.
- Parent Category: News
BECKLEY -- The Exhibition Coal Mine will present the annual "Appalachian Coal Town Christmas."
It is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5.
The Coal Mine has been transformed into an old town Christmas setting. The festival will consist of traditional decorations in the coal camp houses and church.
There will be Christmas caroling, food vendors and a visit from Santa Claus.
Visitors can also head underground for a Christmas themed coal mine tour.
"It is absolutely beautiful and you can't imagine until you come and see it yourself. It's just lit with different color lights," said Renda Morris, organizer of the festival.
The Exhibition Coal Mine will be open each Friday and Saturday through the Dec. 19 from 5 to 9 p.m..