Editorial: Coal and Our Future

by Mike Stuart, President, West Virginia Conservative Foundation

It is hard times for the future of coal mining in West Virginia in part because it is difficult for the industry to know who its friends are.

When coal is at the forefront of a heated and passionate public policy fight with Washington bureaucrats, battle lines are drawn between those who benefit from coal – workers, managers, investors and all Americans who depend on it as an energy source – and those who want to control it – government regulators, politicians and policy makers. Just a few weeks ago, U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd’s disappointing and surprising comments and commentary on the subject made things worse.

Senator Byrd has served West Virginia with unquestioned distinction over an historic tenure. He has in the past been a champion of working families and coal miners.

Unfortunately, our senior Senator has now departed from protecting working miners from the out-of-state parties that would shutter our mines and render jobless our families.

In his commentary, Senator Byrd said the coal industry is guilty of provoking public anger toward federal regulators. He said there are “rigid mind sets” and people need to be ready to change.

Change is what the coal industry has done for decades. Change and adaptation have been critical to the industry’s survival and the pace continues to accelerate. Coal is safer to mine, cleaner to burn, and better for the economy than ever before. New technologies are improving the efficiency and safety of coal mining every day.

Senator Byrd said that, “mountain top removal mining, a declining national demand for energy, rising mining costs…all add up to fewer jobs in the coal fields.” Really? Is that true? Surface mining does take fewer workers but they can be employed over a longer time period and, per man hour, will recover more coal. That efficiency works against rising costs. And the growing national demand for energy has only wavered during the current recession. Economic recovery will spur future increased demand for energy—domestic energy.

No nation has ever recovered economically with less energy. The United States needs and will continue to need more energy, affordable energy, and energy that does not challenge our national security.

Senator Byrd said, “Scapegoating and stoking fear among workers over the permitting process is counter-productive.” Does he mean alerting people to the fact that their jobs are threatened by over-zealous regulation?

It should be no surprise that workers and communities in West Virginia will vigorously fight for their jobs, the very jobs that put food on the table of countless thousands of family tables, fund our local communities, schools and charities. Should it be a surprise that West Virginians are willing to fight for their survival?

The Senator even suggested that by forcefully making its points, the industry will work against amicable relations with regulators. Amicable relations are good and noble but regulators should know they are potentially adversely impacting workers, families, and whole communities.

The Senator even says standing up for the industry might drive away investors. The truth is that if the industry will not vigorously defend itself, then who will? It is only when investors perceive a weakened industry waving the white flag of surrender to the regulators, politicians, and those defending faulty science that investors will seek safety in energy investments outside the coal industry.

Surface mining has its opponents, most of which have few ties and do not live in West Virginia but, let there be no mistake, coal has been good to West Virginia, its people, our families, and our communities.

Coal shall continue to benefit our nation and our state but, at this time, in this place, and under these dire circumstances, those in the defense of working families and jobs must rally to save an industry and a way of life.

Certainly the good Senator has worked hard on behalf of coal and the entire state of West Virginia over the past 57 years. Senator Byrd says “change is coming” and he’s correct. But what kind of change will it be?

If we do not want to be overrun by it, we need to influence it, guide it, and alter its course to the benefit, not the detriment, of our citizens. If we stand by, twiddle our thumbs and do nothing, we will most certainly be the victims of it.

God Bless the working families of West Virginia in these turbulent times and the contribution of coal to our past, our present, and our future.