West Virginia Coal: Fueling an American Renaissance West
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Coal Facts A Publication of the West Virginia Coal ASsociation West Virginia Coal: Fueling AN American Renaissance 2011 COAL FACT More than 63,000 West Virginia families depend on coal mining for their livelihoods. Have you ever wondered just who are the Friends of Coal? The Friends of Coal: Speaking with one voice We are ... West Virginia! We are ... West Virginia Coal! If you live in West Virginia, Kentucky or just about anywhere coal is Friends of Coal also was born out of a desire to correct the impression that mined, you have probably seen it -- on a helmet, a license plate, the back coal’s time has passed in West Virginia. window of a pickup truck. It’s on lunch boxes, shirts, yard signs, pens, pencils The Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary is literally the “right arm” of the and football games. It’s on every state championship trophy given out by organization. The Auxiliary is active throughout the region. It has created a coal- the West Virginia Secondary Schools Athletic Commission, race cars, boats oriented curriculum for use in the elementary school system, conducted charity and even rubber coal. That little blue and black “Friends of Coal” logo is, it drives, managed the production of several key events throughout the summer seems, everywhere. festival season and has reached out to the sick and infirm in local hospitals with But have you ever really asked yourself, “Just who are the Friends of visits and gifts. We are proud of our Auxiliary and the hard work they do for our Coal?” coal mining families, including their Christmas for the Troops.. Well, Friends of Coal is a grassroots group founded in 2002 to lend its Coal supplies about 48 percent of this country’s electrical power demand, support to the West Virginia coal industry. In the beginning, the group was and West Virginia is the nation’s second largest coal producer. There is no danger little more than a name and an idea -- that the West Virginia coal industry, that demand for energy will cease. which plays a critical role in the state’s economy and in the lives of many In a shrinking world community, however, competition for West Virginia’s families, needed the support of its people. traditional coal markets is increasing every year. Nations with low safety and Today, the Friends of Coal has spread to almost 50,000 people, with environmental standards, low pay and government subsidies, are threats to the members in almost every state and several foreign countries. Headquartered Appalachian coal’s place in the market. in Charleston, the group also has independent chapters operating in Kentucky, West Virginia’s greatest advantages have always been the quality of its coal, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee and several other states. its relative proximity to the markets and most important, its hard-working, highly The Friends of Coal is no longer “just a name” but has morphed into an skilled and productive workforce. army of coal miners, their families, friends, neighbors, local and state business In other words, despite the best coal miners in the world, the best coal in leaders, elected officials, doctors, lawyers, teachers, pizza delivery guys and the world and a growing demand for energy, West Virginia’s coal industry is still students. The organization sponsors major sporting events, community fairs, plagued by the uncertainties of the shifting marketplace. little leagues, taking the message of coal to the people. As the industry streamlines and adapts to meet these challenges, it is The message is simple: Coal mining is vital to West Virginia and to our increasingly important the Friends of Coal in West Virginia unite to speak with nation. one voice. It’s frequently noted that every coal mining job creates another five to The Friends of Coal will continue to clearly demonstrate that coal must be eight jobs somewhere in the economy. a major consideration in the establishment of public policy in the state and in the Anyone who has ever visited a coal mining community in West Virginia nation. would have no hesitation in believing that statistic. It is likely no other state For more information, visit the Friends of Coal website at www.friend- and industry are as closely identified as West Virginia and coal. Friends of Coal is based on the simple premise West Virginia is full of people who understand and appreciate the value and the importance of coal to available at the Friends of Coal website. Let the world know you are a Friend of the Mountain State and its people. Coal. These people have always been around. But they have never before been asked to demonstrate just how many West Virginians are directly and indirectly involved with the coal industry. Page 4 From the President’s Desk ... The State of Coal By BILL RANEY WVCA President While the rest of the country, and the Table of Contents world for that matter, struggle to pull themselves from the depths of recession, West Virginia has weathered the storm. Introduction -- Friends of Coal Page 4 Today, West Virginia is one of only a Table of Contents/The State of Coal Page 5 Coal Facts At A Glance Pages 6-7 budget surpluses over the past two years. Coal Production by County Page 8 This has been due to strong, effective County Rankings (Production & Employment) Page 9 state legislature who have pursued sound, Largest Coal Companies Page 10 Million Ton Mines Page 11 coal industry. Production & Transportation Methods Page 12 The $26 billion coal industry and the 63,000 jobs it provides has provided a solid foundation for the state’s economy, and the estimated Production by Seam Pages 13 $1 billion in taxes paid by the industry has provided a dependable, sta- Historical Data Pages 14 ble source of funds for state and local governments. The other natural Severance Tax Receipts by County Pages 15 resource industries have also been a big help, but the lion’s share of Severance Tax Distributions Pages 16-19 severance taxes ($400 million) have come from the coal that is mined by West Virginians and sold across the country and the world. Mining Reserves & Facts to Know Page 20 West Virginia knows how important coal is to its economy. So do County Profiles Pages 21-34 West Virginians. In fact, most of the world recognizes the value of The Permit Process Page 36-37 West Virginia coal. Most of the world, that is, except for the federal bureaucracy in Washington, DC. Some folks in Washington treat Underground: Process in Photos Page 38 our nation’s most abundant natural resource as a liability. This is Restoration Page 39 unbelievable! Post-Mine Land Use & Examples Pages 40-41 The individual states understand the importance of coal as well. Responsibly Green: Environmental Awards Page 42 They want to protect their “new wealth” industries, those that take Responsibly Safe: The Safety Awards Page 43 something of “little value” and turn it into something “much-more History of Coal Page 45 Glossary of Terms Pages 46-49 electricity, steel and a wide array of by-products that are critical to our everyday life. Coal Facts 2011 is published by the West Virginia Coal Association P.O. Box 3923, Charleston, West Virginia 25339 and continue to have budget surpluses are “energy states” (WV, ND, Telephone (304) 342-4153, Fax (304) 342-7651 Web Site www.wvcoal.com small to huge. So, yes, the energy-producing states are doing every- Chairman Gary White thing possible to treat their natural resources, coal – oil – gas – timber President Bill Raney – water, like assets. Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton The eight Appalachian states of WV, KY, VA, AL, TN, OH, PA and Vice President Jason Bostic MD are producing more than a 1/3rd of America’s coal. And these Assistant to the President Sandi Davison eastern states account for 64 percent of the value of all coal mined in this country while employing more than 70 percent of America’s coal NOTE: The numbers reported in this booklet representing West miners. Virginia’s production have slight discrepancies due to differences in Although the East has been Ground Zero for the “anti-coal” at- tacks of this administration, there’s no excuse for the baseless shots data collected by EIA and WVOHMST. --- taken at our people, who truly are the “best coal miners” and “best coal mine managers” in the world. These professionals are doing -- what they want to do --- where they want to do it--right here in West On the Cover: Virginia --- or one of the other eastern states. West Virginia Coal: Fueling an American Renaissance These people have jobs, good-paying jobs, but their futures are be- ing threatened and it’s simply not fair. It isn’t fair to them and it isn’t West Virginia coal is shipped to power plants and steel mills around the world. fair to America. The coal they produce is absolutely vital to Americans Our state’s coal miners can rightly claim to have powered our nation through everywhere. Take our coal out of the national energy equation and two world wars. We have powered out nation’s industry in peace and war. In you’ve got a real mess on your hands! For instance, what’s the Na- fact, we have powered the world. tional Capitol Region of Washington and Baltimore going to do when Our industry stands ready to be the fuel for the 21st Century -- to allow us to 48 percent of their electricity comes from West Virginia coal? If we’re ever going to rebuild this country’s economy, we’re going Today, more than 60,000 West Virginia families depend on the coal industry to have to climb on the backs of those who did it before! The ones for their livelihoods.