September 2, 2025 - Below is a message from Chris Hamilton, President and CEO, West Virginia Coal Association:

The Association has joined with the West Virginia Coalfield Development Office to sponsor a Coal Forum and underground mine and power plant tour on September 10-12 for legislators from West Virginia and other states that consume West Virginia coal. A copy of the program is here.

The forum and educational portion of the program will be held at Oglebay Park in Wheeling, WV and the underground mine tour will be conducted by Alliance Coal Company at their Tunnel ridge Mine in Triadelphia, WV.  Core Natural Resources will be hosting a reception and presentation on its advanced coal to products program, and the three-day event will conclude with a visit to AEPs Mitchell Power Plant in Moundsville, WV.

The program is part of the expanded responsibilities and outreach of the WV Coalfield Development Office per legislation that was passed two years ago which was designed for the WVCFDO to educate policy makers on the importance of coal and coal-fired generation. 

If you or others from within your organization are interested in attending this event, please give me a call at 304/549-8231.

Also here is a letter to members of Governor Morrisey’s Executive Energy Team, restating our interest in partnering with them to take full advantage of the opportunities presently existing for West Virginia coal.  The letter restates positive actions of the Trump Administration and addresses several items under state control, in addition to the coal provisions in HB 2014, that could work to the advantage of our industry.  I met with the Governor’s team earlier this week to discuss the major issues raised in the letter which resulted in obvious eagerness on behalf of the Governor's Office to join with us to advance an aggressive pro-coal agenda.

The Governor’s remarks at the Business Summit and announced 50 by 50 plan for coal and energy reflects his commitment to grow West Virginias energy industries. The 50 by 50 plan is to increase the state's electric generation output from 16 gigawatts to 50 gigawatts by 2050. A news article highlighting his remarks can be accessed here.