What Will Obama's Plan To Bankrupt The Coal Industry Do To West Virginia's Economy?

MarineReconDad — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:36:38 GMT

Did you know that 99% of West Virginia electricity and more than half of American electricity is generated by coal produced in West Virginia? Or that every coal mining job generates between five and six other jobs in the local economy?

Last year West Virginia mines produced 158.8 million tons of coal, 2nd only to Wyoming. Of that coal 91.9 million tons were produced in underground mining operations, more than any other state in the U.S.

These facts, along with many others are disclosed in Coal Facts 2007, a West Virginia Coal Association publication released earlier this week. Coal Facts is an annual, limited-run, magazine-style publication made available to media outlets and government agencies. Coal Facts highlights a multitude of diverse facts about the coal industry.

"This is a terrific publication that is a valuable tool for people in our industry and people that want to know about our industry," West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said. "We do our best to make sure Coal Facts contains just about anything a person would want to know about coal production in our state."

The publication offers production figures for West Virginia and the United States, broken down by counties and states, respectively. Coal Facts also lists production by companies.

This year’s 35th edition states that 48,720 West Virginians are directly employed in mining coal with 13,511 working in underground mines, 7,022 in surface mines, 2,387 in coal handling facilities and 25,800 as contractors.

Leading the coal producing corporate group is CONSOL Energy, Inc. with a total of 17.9 million tons. Boone County is first in coal production with 32.8 million tons.

Among those statistics, Coal Facts offers a comprehensive breakdown of the $25.4 million distributed to West Virginia counties and municipalities from coal severance tax collections. West Virginia coal companies paid more than $300 in severance taxes during 2006.

"All of these statistics reveal the overwhelmingly positive impact our people have on West Virginia, its economy and its people," Raney said. "It is tremendous testimony to their work ethic and their accomplishments."

RE: What Will Obama's Plan To Bankrupt The Coal Industry Do To West Virginia's Economy?

dripbydrip — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:08:59 GMT

That's probably why they voted McCain 56% and Obama 43%.

RE: What Will Obama's Plan To Bankrupt The Coal Industry Do To West Virginia's Economy?

Tippy — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:49:11 GMT

What will Obama's plan do to create jobs by using clean coal technology, green house gases, wind turbine, power grids, nuclear energy ect.. do for the nation's economy as a whole? That includes West Virginia. We need to get out of the 20th century and move into the 21st century. This kind of thinking is what has been holding us back for years. Thank God we now have a President who can think outside of the box.

Be Blessed.

RE: What Will Obama's Plan To Bankrupt The Coal Industry Do To West Virginia's Economy?

MarineReconDad — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:09:40 GMT

The coal country states all evaluated Obama, and came up with the same answer,disaster for the coal industry and America through increased electricity costs for the next 15-20 years! Can America survive such increases for the next 15-20 years?

RE: What Will Obama's Plan To Bankrupt The Coal Industry Do To West Virginia's Economy?

Tippy — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:04:15 GMT

If we have survived this mess Bush got us in, and if we survived the great depression, and 911, we will get through anything. The coal industry may be pleasantly surprised, Obama may make things better for them. It is very easy to speculate without having any concrete proof.

Be Blessed.

RE: What Will Obama's Plan To Bankrupt The Coal Industry Do To West Virginia's Economy?

MarineReconDad — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:33:09 GMT

Tippy. You always throw the term around "the mess Bush got us in!" name one executive order he used to get us in whatever mess economic or otherwise you speak of ,that did not involve Senate or Congressional votes. Or Senate or House oversight! There are lots of people in the "Blame Boat" and a lot of them are your "Blessed" Democrats!

And, by the time you get "concrete" proof, that concrete is around your feet and your at the bottom of the lake. It's a little late by the time you get the proof. And I believe every word Obama said about the coal industry, and the related electricity costs increases. I KNOW Obama would NEVER lie when he speaks, and it is ALWAYS the TRUTH!

RE: What Will Obama's Plan To Bankrupt The Coal Industry Do To West Virginia's Economy?

Tippy — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:25:39 GMT

MarineReconDad,

Your heart is fixed and your mind is made up. So be it unto you.

Be Blessed.