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. Â 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
- Â 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
- Â 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.
