Senator Truman Chafin and Delegates Harry Keith White and Steve Kominar spoke at the annual Legislative Luncheon hosted by the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce and Southern West Virginia Community College giving a snapshot of issues that will shape the next session of the state legislature, which begins next month.
“In my opinion, there is nothing more important than the EPA,” Del. Kominar said. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this [situation with the EPA] is the worst that I have seen”
Regulations by the EPA seem to change ambiguously, Kominar said, which makes potential investors in the coal industry hesitant.
“Their position changes, when we need stability,” Kominar said. “We have changed more than any other industry. The coal industry has complied with all the regulations. Make no mistake, we do it right in southern West Virginia.”
The EPA is currently receiving public comments about the Mingo Hybrid Energy project planned for Mingo County. The plant will turn coal into gasoline, with little environmental impact, according to developers. An investment of $3 billion by Transgas in the facility was announced last year. Exxon Mobile is the latest company to commit to the project, which is expected to use three million tons of locally mined coal of all grades each year to produce over 6.5 million barrels of gasoline.
During construction the facility will employ approximately 3,000 unionized workers. Full time employment at the plant will be 200, while several hundred spin-off jobs in the mining, transportation and other sections of the economy will be created.
Air quality Permits for the facility were approved by the EPA, but, feeling pressure from environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, the agency extended the public comment period.
A meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 17, in Gilbert, during which state regulators from the state Division of Air Quality will discuss the permitting process with the public. Sen. Chafin asked those attending the luncheon to come to the meeting to support the project.
“The EPA can stop development in southern West Virginia, and citizens need to make their voices heard,” Chafin said. “We need to speak as one voice.”
Del. White, House Finance Chairman, said the financial outlook for the state looks good on the short term.
“In West Virginia, we have to balance the budget,” he explained. “The governor adjusted the 2009 budget three times. We were under budget, and unlike the surrounding states, we have not had to use our rainy day funds. We are in pretty good shape through 2011.”
However, White said the income from coal is critical to the state’s tax base.
“Coal is important, coal severance taxes go to every county in the state,” he said. “Coal is important to West Virginia and to the country. The loss of coal would be devastating to the entire state.”
Del. Kominar agreed.
“Ask your county assessor what the loss of revenue from coal would mean to the budget, what it would do to our counties. This isn’t just the coal business, it is our way of life.”
“It is the best of times and the worst of times,” White said. “But it is the only time we’ve got.”
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