Bill Raney
President,
West Virginia Coal Association
WVE: Give us an update on what has happened in
your industry over the last year.
BR: Looking at January 2018-January 2019, we can point
to increased production and an increased number of direct coal
mining jobs as well as indirect supplying and servicing jobs.
The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Train-
ing reports production of 104.4 million tons for 2018, and the
Energy Information Administration and the Mine Safety and
Health Administration report 99.2 million tons. Regardless of
which total you use, each represents an increase in production
when compared to 2017’s 94.4 million tons.
Similar to the positive trend in production, last year’s em-
ployment numbers reflect an increase of more than 5,000 jobs
when compared to 2017. These numbers combine the totals for
direct coal mining jobs: both underground and surface miners,
preparation plant workers and contractors who depend on a
mine operating somewhere in West Virginia every day.
WVE: Tell us about how the 2019 legislative session
impacted your industry.
BR: In this year’s legislative session, we saw three bills
passed that are significant and critical to our continued op-
eration. HB 3142 will reduce the severance tax on our steam
and thermal coal to 3 percent over three years, beginning July
1, 2019. This bill is literally the salvation of our steam and
thermal coal industry because it could save thousands of jobs
by reducing the price of our coal and giving us a much better
chance at competing with similar coals being mined in Illinois
and Pennsylvania where there is no severance tax. HB 3144
will help encourage investment in West Virginia’s coal mines
by establishing a program by which companies can recover a
portion of investment made in equipment, machinery and im-
provements necessary for increased production and, thereby,
increased severance taxes. This is particularly significant as it
encourages companies to invest in new and expanded mining
operations in West Virginia as opposed to other coal-produc-
ing states. SB 635, this year’s version of the Coal Jobs and
Safety Act, is the fifth generation of this act that continues to
help modernize our laws and mandate regulations that more
accurately reflect what is being done in today’s modern coal
mining operations.
WVE: What changes need to be made for our energy
and manufacturing industries to be more competitive
with surrounding states?
BR: It’s imperative that the recently passed laws be imple-
mented by the respective agencies and that the mandated rules
and regulations be promulgated in a workable sense consistent
with the expressed intent of the Legislature in order for us to be
competitive with other coal-producing states and countries.
WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM
SPRING 2019
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