Petition For Coal Mining

To:  US Congress

Petition for Coal Mining



As you know recently the coal industry has taken a major downturn. Its sad that when running for election, our new president said he stood for clean coal and finding ways to improve this, but now he seems to be absolutely ｡ｧno｡ｨ coal. Its even worse that none of our political parties that are against coal seem to understand the impact they are going to cause on the economy by doing away with coal. Its easy for them to set in their cushy offices and turn a blind eye to the hard working family men that depend on coal mining to support their families. If they could take a look into the eyes of the children of these men, could they honestly tell then, ｡ｧI want to take your daddy｡ｦs job from him and I personally am not worried about how he provides you food, clothing, and a home after I do this.｡ｨ Do you know how he is going to have to try to be able to provide for his child, unemployment. If you keep running the coal industry into the ground, all of these men will have no choice but to depend on unemployment to provide what they can for their families. Now won｡ｦt that just put a major snag in the economy of the United States, as if it isn｡ｦt in trouble enough already. Not to mention the thousands of people that will be with out power. AEP has done said it only has enough coal in its reserve to provide power for one month only if the coal mining industry was to shut down. Energy is not the only thing coal provides for either, and these industries will suffer as well, just like most of the steel companies and so forth already are suffering.

The economic impact of coal in WV is as follows:

West Virginia coal is shipped to 33 states and the District of Columbia.

West Virginia coal is shipped to 25 countries.

The coal industry and the coal burning electric generating industry together represent nearly 60% of the business taxes paid to the State of West Virginia.

West Virginia｡ｦs coal industry pays over one billion dollars in annual direct wages.

Coal is responsible for more than $3.5 billion to West Virginia｡ｦs gross state product, nearly 13% of the total.

In the eastern region, Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Morgan, and Pendleton counties produce no coal but receive coal severance tax money.

* Coal Facts 2003 ｡V West Virginia Coal Association Inc.

And in KY:

｡P employed 17,669 miners earning over $1.04 billion in wages during 2006.

ハハハハハハ｡P created a total of 72,970 jobs statewide.

ハハハハハハ｡P paid $221.42 million in severance taxes during FY 2006-07 and generated total

state tax revenues of $634.0 million.

ハハハハハハ｡P was a $4.97 billion industry which brought into Kentucky receipts totaling more

Than $3.95 billion from approximately 30 states and 4 foreign countries in 2006.

ハハハハハハ｡P created economic activity throughout Kentucky totaling $10.85 billion.

Source: U.S. DOE｡XEnergy Information Administration, Coal Industry Annual, 2006.

The benefits of mining include:

Benefits of Mining&

The value of coal produced in the United States each year is nearly $18 billion.

Source: EIA, Annual Energy Review 2001, T.7.8, and T.7.2


Coal is directly responsible for the existence of more than 90,000 U.S. jobs and nearly one million jobs directly and indirectly.

Source: EIA, Western Economic Analysis Center (WEAC), 1998, p. 17


Coal mining has a combined direct and indirect impact of $161 billion annually on the U.S. economy. This is $596 for every U.S. citizen.

Source: WEAC 1998, p. 17; EIA Annual Energy Review 1998, T.E1


Individual Americans and their families receive a significant amount of personal income as a result of coal mining's monetary contributions to the economy: $37 billion annually, or nearly 1percent of all earnings received by the country's workers.

Source: WEAC 1998, p. 17; U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Wages Annual Analysis 1998, p. 6


Every state, even those without reserves or mining, benefits economically in some way from U.S. coal production. In fact, California and New York, two states without coal mining, are among those that benefit the most from combined direct and indirect economic impacts.

Source: WEAC 1998, p. 3


The federal government receives more than $11 billion annually in taxes and fees from the coal industry.

Source: WEAC 1998, p. 1


State and local governments receive nearly $9 billion each year in revenues.

Source: WEAC 1998, p. 1


Developing countries' demand for coal will double through 2020, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Source: EIA, International Energy Outlook 2001, p.177


Production rates have reached an average of more than six tons per miner per hour, or nearly 52 tons in a single eight-hour day. In 1945, there were 390,382 coal miners (includes anthracite) who averaged almost six tons of coal production a day.

Source: EIA, Annual Energy Review 2001, T.7.6; Coal Data: A Reference 1998, pages 48-51


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What is Coal Being Used For Today?

For Electric Power - Generating plants burn coal to make steam. The steam turns turbines which generate electricity, which in turn powers light bulbs, air conditioners, appliances, computers and even life-saving equipment in hospitals.

For Industry - A variety of industries use coal's heat and by-products. Separated ingredients of coal (such as methanol and ethylene) are used in making plastics, tar, synthetic fibers, fertilizers and medicines. The concrete and paper industries also burn large amounts of coal.

For Making Steel - Coal is baked in hot furnaces to make coke, which is used to smelt iron ore into the iron needed for making steel. It's the carbon in coal that gives steel the strength and versatility for products such as bridges, automobiles and buildings.

For Export - The United States is one of the top exporters of coal in the world. Most coal goes to Western Europe, Canada and Japan.

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Why Use Coal?


One reason is that we have a great supply of coal. America has the second largest coal reserves in the world. If we used all the recoverable coal we have at the same rate at which we are using it today, there would be enough coal to last almost 300 years. We have much more coal than oil or natural gas.

Another reason we use coal is that we can afford it. Coal is usually less expensive than other fuels. It is also less expensive than nuclear energy, which requires power plants that have become increasingly expensive and difficult to build. Locating coal reserves is also easier and less expensive than locating oil or natural gas.

How Does Coal Mining Affect Our Environment?

In the early 1900's coal had developed a bad image because of the soot, dirt and pollution it created. But today, even though coal use has nearly doubled in the last 20 years, its SO2 emissions are at their lowest levels since the 1930's. The reason is that new technology has resulted in steady declines in emissions from coal combustion. In addition, there is greater use of low sulfur coals.

Great care is also being taken by coal companies to restore the land which is temporarily disturbed during mining. Though coal mining alters the landscape, federal and state laws require all mined land to be restored to its original condition. Mining companies plan the reclamation process before they even start digging. In many cases the land is left in better condition than before mining started.

Information for this article was taken from "What Everyone Should Know About Coal" - American Coal Foundation and "Power From Coal" - American Coal Foundation

Does America seriously need to do away with this vital resource, I think not. Not to mention we don｡ｦt need higher unemployment rates. Please reconsider doing away with coal. Don｡ｦt only think about its uses, but the thousands of people that depend on it to make a living.

Thank you.

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Below is a list of people who are PRO COAL and want you to rethink doing away with mining industry.

Please keep our jobs safe and let us continue to have a way to support our families:

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Petition For Coal Mining Petition to US Congress was created by and written by Amanda Davis (chris_amandadavis@yahoo.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.