Tagged: coal

The involvement of a state representative in a major coal deal in Kentucky is raising some eyebrows. Under the terms of a new $7 billion contract, Kentucky coal producers will ship nine million tons of coal a year to India for the next twenty-five years. Representative Keith Hall was instrumental in brokering the deal—and he represents both the people of Kentucky and his own private coal interests.

Hall's district covers part of coal-rich Pike County. He’s the chair of a special energy subcommittee, and the vice chair on the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee.

He also owns several coal-related businesses in the area—including mines—and sits on the board of FJS Energy. FJS is the New Jersey-based company that signed the deal with India.

“I’m not just a friend of coal,” Hall said. “I’m coal’s best friend.”

Nine million tons of Appalachian coal will be heading to India this year, after a new deal was announced yesterday between several Kentucky coal producers and an Indian company. This is good news for the struggling Kentucky coal industry—but it may not be enough.

Coal mines in Kentucky and West Virginia will send millions of tons of coal to India, under the terms of a 25-year contract that was signed today.

The $7 billion deal between FJS Energy, a New Jersey-based energy company, and a coal group in India will send 6 to 9 million tons of coal annually for use in Indian power plants and steel production. There are coal mines in India, too, but production is unable to meet growing demands.

Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson says Kentucky needs to double its efforts to create clean energy and green jobs.

In a meeting with energy officials Wednesday, Abramson said the commonwealth needs to look to the future.

“We simply can not, should not and frankly we will not be able to keep doing things the way we have in the past.”

The New York Times has a story up today about a contentious mine in Owensboro, Kentucky.

The Daviess County Fiscal Court voted earlier this month to allow a surface mine proposed by Western Kentucky Minerals. The mine would abut a Girl Scout camp: Camp Pennyroyal. Now, the decision is being appealed. But in the meantime, it's pitting residents against each other.

The AFL-CIO has launched a new direct mail campaign aimed at attacking Mitt Romney’s record on coal mine safety.

The ad features union president Richard Trumka, a third generation coal miner from Pennsylvania.