Open Letter to Friends of Coal Everywhere

December 30, 2020

As the clock strikes midnight on the year 2020, we are hopeful that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is near, and we pray for the safety and health of all Americans.

While the pandemic and market forces contributed to record low coal production in 2020, the industry has experienced modest recovery over the past three and a half years under the Trump Administration.

The Administration, to include leadership in the US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, has worked to place the industry on stable regulatory footing, protect the industry’s electric generation market share, and engaged in research and development of new technologies to extend the viability of this vital resource. As an industry, we are thankful for these efforts.

But now we must come to grips with the fact that a new Administration – one committed to a “zero-carbon economy” and the “Green New Deal” – will soon take over. As the adage goes, “fore warning is fair warning”.

We have also experienced a weakening of support on the state level, as West Virginia’s two major power generators have announced plans to transition away from coal. 

We are deeply concerned with what the future holds, and you should be as well.

As an industry that provides the energy America needs to exist and that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across this country, we must be prepared to stand up for coal.

The coal economy, to include companies, vendors, workers, and the communities we support, must band together and do everything imaginable to help preserve coal mining and coal-fired power generation jobs.

We have a great story to tell and nobody is more deserving of support from our government than our working miners and all those individuals who receive a paycheck from an operating coal mine or an electric generation facility.  

Given the obvious rough waters ahead and challenges that will be coming out of Washington of proportions we have not seen, we must act now, today, to demonstrate the value and critical nature of our business to policy makers everywhere. 


The fact is there are forces at work every hour of every day plotting the demise of our industry and your livelihood, and it begs your involvement and action now!

We are asking all coal economy stakeholders to begin contacting your local, county, state, and congressional representative to express concern over the potential loss of your job and what you believe is about to happen going forward. 


We need to change the perception that anti-coal public policy actions only impact a relatively small population of our state and society. 

We fully intend to reinvigorate “Friends of Coal” and unite members nationally to “Stand up for Coal”.


Act today. Stay connected. Speak out!


We welcome your thoughts and input to make our efforts successful.

Sincerely Yours,  
Chris Hamilton
President, WV Coal Association
(304) 342-4153

West Virginia Coal – Back To The Future

December 17, 2020

If State leadership had advance warning or insight into the reasons for Viatris’ decision, could they have convinced them to continue operations?  While it appears not, this decision serves as a wakeup call.

Similarly, as we work to diversify our economy and recruit new industries to locate in West Virginia, we must be cognizant of the whims of the marketplace and its impact on new business ventures. Do these prospective ventures have the staying power to ride out a market downturn or the enticement of a merger or, more generally, the lure of greener pastures somewhere else? 

I recognize that Governor Justice, the Department of Commerce, and local economic development professionals have had many recent successes and work extremely hard to grow West Virginia’s economy.  That same level of diligence must also extend to doing everything imaginable to preserve and retain existing state businesses. 

Governor Justice and our legislative leaders have done a great deal for the coal industry in recent years. However, we have also seen a growing sentiment within our state to attract new, “high tech” businesses to come here while not doing everything imaginable to preserve coal, coal mining and coal-based electric manufacturing.  

Coal industry employment in West Virginia currently surpasses the soon-to-close Viatris facility by a factor of ten.  Our eight coal-fired electric “manufacturing” facilities employ thousands and contribute billions to the state economy. 

Even in its current reduced profile, coal and coal-based electric manufacturing facilities account for thirteen percent of our states’ total economic output.  This equates to a whopping one in every six dollars generated within our state. This is substantial and is much too important to take for granted. 

We must do everything imaginable to preserve this gigantic economic enterprise. 

In many ways, the coal industry finds itself “Back To The Future”.  This industry helped build our state and country over the past 150-plus years and through modernization and the implementation of the latest innovative technologies we continue to play a significant role today.

Coal mining and coal-based electric manufacturing facilities are state-of-the-art operations that have been transformed by the same technological forces that are changing our daily lives. Although we combat the perception daily, the fact is that today’s coal industry is a futuristic workplace. The women and men who design the mines, operate the machinery, manage the power plants, and facilitate the transmission of electricity onto the power grid are among the most technically trained professionals of any industry.  

These individuals, tens of thousands strong, live in most every community across the state. They might be your neighbor, little league coach, or even your pastor. Their children make up a large segment of our public schools and state universities and their spouses may be a teacher, medical professional, or Sunday school teacher.  

The mining industry faces many challenges. Natural gas continues to grow as a source fuel for electric generation, replacing coal in many states that heretofore received shipments of West Virginia coal.  While we are adapting to market conditions and continue to innovate, the shifting sands of public policy on the national level pose a far greater threat. 

President-Elect Biden’s campaign rhetoric and current choices to lead key federal environmental and regulatory posts signal stormy seas ahead for fossil fuel-based industries. We need the ongoing and continued support of state leaders and the public if we hope to push back against such extreme policies and remain viable and productive. 

For the record, the coal industry fully embraces new and innovative businesses coming into our state and we welcome diversification. We recognize renewable energy has a role to play. However, we do not believe we should trade one energy job for another, particularly if the replacement model is unreliable, costs more for consumers, and compensates workers less. 

There is no question, we must diversify our economy.  We must also do what is necessary to keep our coal industry as vibrant as it can be in today’s marketplace. 

The coal workforce, whether they mine coal, generate electricity, or provide the services and goods necessary to support the industry, is critical to our tax base, communities, and economy. 

The coal industry has supported West Virginia and its citizens since before we were a State, and with your help, we plan to be a vibrant part of our future.

Chris Hamilton
President & CEO
West Virginia Coal Association

Weekly Production / Consumption Report (Jan. 23 Update)

January 29, 2021

Last week, West Virginia coal production increased at one its highest week over week rates since the COVID pandemic, going up +12.8% from the previous week.  State production from the NAPP region increased by +14.34% and output from the CAPP region of the state increased by almost +11%. Nationally, coal production increased by  +9.6%.  Production from the entire Appalachian region increased by 

+8.7%.  Production from the Interior region increased by +9.2% and Western output increased by just over +10%.  

Thermal coal prices changed across most of the basins.  CAPP prices decreased by -2% (-$1.10), NAPP pricing increased by +3.1% (+$1.40).  Illinois basin prices were static from the previous week, and prices dropped slightly in the Powder River Basin (-0.4%) and Western Bituminous (-0.5%) regions. Average natural gas prices declined by -10.6% week over week. 

U.S. Iron and steel production declined week over week by -1.02%, with capacity utilization decreasing by -1.3%.

Electric generation was down nationally by -2.8% from the previous week, with output from the coal regions decreasing by -3.3%

Total U.S. rail traffic increased slightly week over week by +0.9%, with coal car loadings increasing by +10%.https://www.wvcoal.com/plugins/content/pdf_embed/assets/viewer/pdfjs/web/viewer.html?file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvcoal.com%2Fdocs%2Fstats%2Fstats0129.pdf

WV Coal Association Statement Concerning DC Circuit Court’s Ruling Vacating the Affordable Clean Energy Rule

January 20, 2021

Charleston, W.Va. – – Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association, offers the following statement regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) ruling vacating the Affordable Clean Energy Rule and remanding it back to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for further consideration:

“On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the D.C. Circuit rejected arguments by the EPA and effectively vacated the agencies Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule regulating greenhouse gases from coal fired electric utilities. 

The ACE rule was finalized in June 2019 to replace the Obama EPA Rule requiring coal-fired plants to employ technologies and system not commercially feasible.  This is terrible news for our nation’s and West Virginia’s electric generating plants who must now consider a third set of comprehensive proposed rules governing airborne particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Governor Justice, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, our state’s power industry, and state policy makers have expended significant resources to bring state power facilities into early compliance in order to accelerate state compliance and West Virginia’s continued leadership in air quality achievement. 

The DC Circuit’s decision upheaved EPA’s ACE rule based on inadequate findings that demonstrate that EPA had adequate authority to issue a replacement rule for the previous air quality rule.  The decision will likely be appealed to the United State Supreme Court.”

For additional information, contact Chris Hamilton at (304) 342-4153. 

Bill Raney retires as president, chief executive officer of W.Va. Coal Association

Bill Raney

CHARLESTON, WV, (WVNS) — Bill Raney, who has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the WV Coal Association since 1992, retired effective Jan. 1, 2021.

“Bill Raney is an icon to those of us that have worked in and around the mining industry and to many throughout the state of West Virginia,” said Heath Lovell, chairman of the West Virginia Coal Association board of directors. “His passion for, and contributions to, this industry over his professional career are unsurpassed.  He is the original “Friend of Coal” and we wish him a long, fruitful and well-deserved retirement.” 

Raney began as a service mine inspector in the WVDNR’s Division of Reclamation before being promoted to Assistant Chief. He joined the WV Mining & Reclamation Association as Vice President until being named President of the WV Coal Association in 1992.

Raney served in the West Virginia Army National Guard throughout his professional career. He held several command positions, including Commander of the 1092nd Combat Engineer Battalion and Commander of the 111th Engineer Group.  Before retiring from military service, he served as a special assistant to the Adjutant General at the rank of Colonel. He has served as President of the West Virginia National Guard Association and continues to serve as Chairman of the West Virginia National Guard Foundation.

Bill Raney received multiple honors and awards throughout his career, including: the Distinguished West Virginian award, Most Loyal Alumni by the WVU Alumni Association, Who’s Who in West Virginia, the Hope Award by the National Multiple Sclerosis Association, and the Lewis McManus Service Award by the West Virginia Youth in Government Program. He has been inducted into the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame and the First Tee Hall of Fame. And, he and Pam were the founders of the Don Nehlen Fan Club supporting the Coach during his career at West Virginia University.

“While Bill leaves an amazing legacy and we are sad to see him go, the West Virginia Coal Association is being left in good hands and will continue on as the leading voice and advocate for the mining industry in West Virginia and our region,” said Lovell.

The WV Coal Association announced that Chris R. Hamilton, current Senior Vice President of the West Virginia Coal Association, was named President and Chief Executive Officer. He began his new position on January 1, 2021.

West Virginia Coal Association Issues Statement on the Passing of Robert Murray, Founder and CEO of Murray Energy

CHARLESTON, WV (October 26, 2020) – The West Virginia Coal Association today issued the following statement on the passing of Robert Murray, founder and CEO of Murray Energy.

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray. Bob was the embodiment of the American Dream – a fourth-generation coal miner who made his way from the mine face to the board room. He never wavered in his love for our industry and for the people who work in it. He defended our nation’s coal jobs with the passion of a country preacher. We have been proud to have Bob Murray as a member of our association and, more importantly, to call him our friend. He will be missed.”

The WVCA sends its condolences to his wife Brenda, and sons: Robert, Ryan and Jonathan.

The Democrat Party Sold Out to the Big Green Money Machine

By T.L. HEADLEY
Communications Director, Citizens for Coal
In 1961, then Massachusetts Senator John Kennedy and Democrat nominee for President visited the coalfields of West Virginia. He visited the coal towns, the company stores on Island Creek and met with thousands of coal miners. He showed clearly that he cared about coal country. Kennedy won West Virginia that year and with it won the presidency. He was tragically killed two years later, assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
In 1961, the Democrat Party represented the working-class people of America, the coal miners, steel workers, auto workers, the farmers and others. It shared our values. But somewhere along the line between then and now, the Democrat Party lost its way. It abandoned working-class Americans and traditional American values and chose to push an increasingly radical agenda. What was the voice of the American people has today become the voice of socialism, of radical environmentalism, of anti-industrialism, of killing babies and the violent political of division that has turned our city streets into lawless war zones.
For the past 60 years, we have watched as the Democrats pushed companies overseas with their increasingly heavy taxes and regulatory strangulation.
First, they went after steel and we lost our steel manufacturing to Japan and China. Then they pushed our auto industry into bankruptcy and decay. One after another they drove businesses off to other countries. Then, in 2009, with the election of the Obama/Biden regime, they came after coal. Regulation after regulation was passed, making it more and more difficult to mine, transport and use coal. The result was easy to see – companies driven into bankruptcy, coal mines closing and tens of thousands of layoffs. These coal mining families were forced to leave a lifetime’s possessions to foreclosure and repossession to find jobs somewhere else. Schools closed and communities died, given over to an epidemic of drugs and alcohol – a slow spiral of death.
Eight years of Obama/Biden nearly killed the nation’s coal industry. The Democrat Party of John Kennedy was dead. To Obama, Biden and Hillary Clinton, those Kennedy Democrats were now “deplorables.”
Then in 2016, the choice was stark and clear – between continuing down that course to the death of our coal industry and the hope for a new start – between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Trump promised to help our industry – to help our coalfield communities by bringing those businesses back to the United States and stabilizing our coal industry.  Clinton, the Democrat, said proudly that “she was going to put a lot of coal miners out of business.”
Trump, the Republican, won West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio and other formerly Democratic states in what Democrats called “The Rust Belt.”
Trump made good on his promises to us in America’s “Rust Belt.” He brought investment back to the United States with lower taxes and he moved swiftly to end the radicalized regulatory agencies’ reign of terror. The result was the fastest growing economy and lowest unemployment rate in 50 years. Our auto, steel and manufacturing industries began to grow again. Coal employment stabilized and we actually started to see some of those laid off return to work. Only a worldwide pandemic was able to slow our economy.
Now, it is 2020 and the choice is between continuing the policies of the Trump Administration and getting our nation back on track, or a return to the destructive policies of Obama/Biden combined with radical socialism of the modern “Democrat” Party.
For America’s coal miners, coal communities and the rest of the “Rust Belt” – all of us “Deplorables” — there is no choice. We MUST re-elect President Trump if we are to stand any chance at all of holding on to our way of life.
I was born and raised in the coalfields of West Virginia. I have a college degree and could have gone anywhere else in the world and probably made a lot more money, but I chose to stay here because it is my home. I am proud to be a West Virginian and proud to be the product of two generations of a coal mining family. I am proud of the contribution the coal industry has made to this country and proud of our coal miners.
My father was a Kennedy Democrat and he would be ashamed of what the modern Democrat Party has become.
An eternal flame was placed on President Kennedy’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery. It was meant to symbolize his eternal love for this country. It seems today’s Democratic Party is intent on snuffing out that flame.

Editor’s Note: T.L. Headley is a professional educator in West Virginia. He holds an MBA from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in education from Marshall University and a master’s degree in public relations from Marshall. He is also an energy expert with more than 20 years of experience in the coal industry. 

 

 

Tracking Coal through the Process of Steel Making

By T.L. HEADLEY, communications director
American Coal Council
GRANITE CITY, IL — Granite City  is the quintessential American small town. It has a population of about 26,000 and for more than 100 years, its economy has largely been dependent on the local U.S. Steel manufacturing plant. For most of that time the community lived with the assurance that comes with an economy centered on basic industry.
That assurance was shaken three years ago when the steel plant laid off most of the 2,000 workers, leaving only a small skeleton crew. The town was shaken at its core. Rosemarie Brown, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Madison County, said the closure was “devastating.”
“The Granite City Works is vital to the community,” Brown said. “In fact, the town was founded around the plant in 1894.” Brown said that in the year after the plant effectively shut down, the Chamber lost 26 member companies.
All that changed when the new Trump administration shifted U.S. trade policy and began taking actions to support the domestic steel industry. Earlier this year, U.S. Steel announced it was restarting both furnaces at the Granite City plant and began recalling laid-off workers. Approximately 800 have returned to work in just the past few months with just one furnace online. More will be needed when the second furnace goes back into production later this year.

Tracking Coal through the Process of Steel Making

A Cup Half Full: Answering the Question “Why Coal and How Coal?”

By Glenn Kellow, CEO
Peabody
WASHINGTON, DC –– U.S. coal exports are booming; domestic generation is easing; global metallurgical coal demand is strong; American natural gas and renewables are tough competitors; new coal plants continue to be built in large numbers particularly in Asia; opponents call for divestment from fossil fuels; recent policies represent potential opportunity.
Just another year in the dynamic coal industry, you might say. Yet amid this mixed “elevator analysis” related to coal fundamentals, I would submit that we can make two statements with confidence.
First: Coal remains an essential part of our global energy mix and a key ingredient in steelmaking.
Second: The question is not “Should we use coal?”, but “How should we use coal?”… And the answer is: cleaner every day.

Glenn Kellow is President & CEO of Peabody, and serves as chairman of the World Coal Association and vice chairman of the International Energy Agency’s Coal Industry Advisory Board.

A Cup Half Full: Answering the Question “Why Coal and How Coal?”

Regional State of the States: Association Leaders Look to the Future

By T.L. Headley, communications director
American Coal Council
WASHINGTON, DC –– Recently, I spoke with the leaders of four of the nation’s state coal associations and asked them to discuss their experiences over the past few years, to assess the current status of the industry in their states and regions, and to share their views of the industry’s future strengths and opportunities.
Those interviewed included Phil Gonet, president of the Illinois Coal Association; Rachel Gleason, executive director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance; Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association; and Travis Deti, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association.

Regional State of the State: Association Leaders Look to the Future