According to information released by the West Virginia Division of Commerce in February, West Virginia coal exports grew by 40 percent last year, increasing from $5.3 billion in 2011 to $7.4 billion in 2012. West Virginia coal accounted for 49 percent of U.S. coal exports in 2012.
The West Virginia Coal Forum—an organization representing both labor and management in the coal industry—and co-host West Liberty University will conduct a meeting to discuss the significance of coal exports to our state and national economies from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 15 at West Liberty University’s Highland Energy Center, located in Triadelphia, West Virginia.
WLU President Robin C. Capehart will welcome the forum participants to the site.
A variety of state experts and policy leaders will speak at the event, to include:
U.S. Congressman David McKinley
- Senator Jeff Kessler, President of WV Senate
- Jeff Herholdt, Director, WV Division of Energy
- Michael Zervos, CEO, United Coal
- Bill Raney, President, WV Coal Association
- Chris Hamilton, Vice-President, WV Coal Association & Co-Chair, WV Coal Forum
- Fred Tucker, UMWA (retired), Co-Chair, WV Coal Forum
Seating is limited and reservations are required. To make a reservation please email Joel L. Watts at joel.l.watts@wv.gov. There is no cost to attend the event. Stakeholders in West Virginia’s mining economy – industry leaders, mining personnel, association representatives, local legislators and policy leaders – are encouraged to attend.
For additional information, contact the West Virginia Coal Forum at (304) 957-2306, or visit the organization’s website at www.wvcoalforum.org.
