Topic: Reality tempers optimism in coal country after court ruling

[biggreenarms]

"Things are not going to change overnight but we have an opportunity to have a comeback now," West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said. "This is the decision we've been waiting for and now we get to move forward and try to put people back to work."

But the reality is more complicated. Pointing out that free-market forces — higher mining costs, decreasing demand and cheaper natural gas — are dragging production down doesn't pack as much of a punch as roasting the White House's environmental initiatives.

U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, whose district comprises most of coal-producing eastern Kentucky, acknowledged the Supreme Court's action may not be enough, even if the courts overturn the EPA regulations.

"Certainly the decision is favorable. But much of the damage has already been done," said Rogers, the longtime chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "Many of these coal-fired power plants have already switched away from coal. And it would be very expensive to switch back."

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/_recent_news/reality-tempers-optimism-in-coal-country-after-court-ruling/article_a48d925c-d284-11e5-b265-3f1a4a89db31.html

[herdfan429]

The powers that be need to figure out something to replace coal. The quicker the better. That's the only way the state survived

[svherd]

Agree, we put all our eggs in the coal bucket for 80 years. Should have diversified our economy a long long time ago.

[luvherd]

In 2013 there were a little over 20,000 WV coal miners out of 1.9m population. Time to move on.

[Buffalo Bop]

Marshall’s Thundering Herd are Friends of Coal: Join the Herd for Friends of Coal Day This Thursday

HUNTINGTON – The Marshall University Marshall Friend of Coal Night GraphicThundering Herd want the world to know they are Friends of Coal.

This Thursday, February 18th, at 7 p.m. the Herd will play host to the Charlotte 49’ers at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington. All coal miners and affiliated employees can use the promo code HERDCOAL on Herdzone.com, or just show your Friends of Coal sticker at the door to receive tickets discounted to just $5 tickets for the game.

The Herd’s Head Basketball Coach Dan D’Antoni said the night will be a “special night honoring the coal miner and all those who work in the coal industry in West Virginia.”

https://wvcoalassociation.wordpress.com/2016/02/15/marshalls-thundering-herd-are-friends-of-coal-join-the-herd-for-friends-of-coal-day-this-thursday/

[Apollo]

Agree, we put all our eggs in the coal bucket for 80 years. Should have diversified our economy a long long time ago.

Careful you guys will get burned at the stake for those comments.

[_sturt_]

What other assets does the state have that gives it advantage? I mean, pragmatically, there just isn't anything there to anchor the state's economy. So, given that, someone has to step up with some unique innovations and/or some wildly advantageous-to-business state policies that create a growth environment--which in itself is a risk/reward proposition, of course.