Our economy in Southwest Virginia is very dependent upon coal. Yet the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has embarked on regulatory changes that will cripple the coal industry in this country. Jobs will be lost and electricity prices will sky rocket.
Coal provided over 37% of Virginia’s electric power generation in 2009. 8,500 Virginians were directly employed by a coal industry in 2008. Many of these are in Southwest Virginia. Direct and indirect employment from the coal industry accounted for more than 31,600 jobs in Virginia in 2008 with a payroll valued at $1.43 billion. All of this would change if the EPA implements its anti-coal regulatory agenda.
One of the rules being proposed by the EPA is the Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (“MACT”) rule. This rule would require coal-fired power plants to install equipment that in some cases is too expensive to afford and in other cases does not exist currently commercially.
All in all, the EPA’s anti-coal regulatory agenda could force the closure of about one-fifth of America’s coal fleet of power plants. This agenda would have a devastating impact on our economy in Southwest Virginia. It is time for our members of the United States Congress to stop this EPA “train wreck”.
Melanie B. Salyer
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