The Bluefield area’s business community and coal industry packed the house July 23 at a meeting of the West Virginia Coal Forum for an in-depth discussion about the future of the state’s bedrock industry.
“Coal is not a four-letter word,” said Fred Tucker, retired United Mine Workers of America representative and co-chairman of the Coal Forum, an organization representing business and labor in the state’s coal industry.
With the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce as a co-sponsor, the Coal Forum event sparked animated discussions about what the federal government is doing to the industry and where West Virginia’s coal future lies. This was the second event in the Coal Forum’s statewide series, “West Virginia Coal: 2015 and Beyond.”
WVVA-TV
By Lindsay Oliver, WVVA Multimedia Journalist
BLUEFIELD (WVVA) -
During the Coal Forum in Bluefield on Thursday, friends of coal from state legislators to industry representatives came together to discuss how the industry has changed and what is in its future. The panel gathered to discuss the battle between the coal industry and the EPA and how they intend to fight for the industry.
By Bill Archer For The Register-Herald
Organizers of the West Virginia Coal Forum scheduled to start at 9 a.m., this morning at the Quality Hotel & Conference Center in Bluefield have finalized the schedule to today’s event.
Chris Hamilton and Fred Tucker, co-chairs of the West Virginia Coal Forum will join with Marc Meachum, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce to welcome those attending the event.
By BILL ARCHER Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — Organizers of the West Virginia Coal Forum scheduled to start at 9 a.m., this morning at the Quality Hotel & Conference Center in Bluefield have finalized the schedule to today’s event.
Chris Hamilton and Fred Tucker, co-chairs of the West Virginia Coal Forum will join with Marc Meachum, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce to welcome those attending the event.
By BILL ARCHER Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — Both the state senate president as well as the Speaker of the House of Delegates are confirmed as presenters for the Coal Forum scheduled for July 23, in Bluefield according to Chris Hamilton, vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association and co-chair of the Coal Forum.
By BILL ARCHER Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — The recent warm spell last week brought on a slight increase in electric output, but the increase in thermal coal production remains down 12.2 percent from production levels in late June, 2014.
But while thermal coal production showed a slight increase compared to the previous week, the number of rail car loadings continued its downward slide — off 13.3 percent compared to the same period last year.