Dec 2 Economy Blackjewel Coal Moves To Liquidate, Leaving Millions Unpaid To Workers And Regulators The convoluted bankruptcy of coal company Blackjewel has hit another turn of events as the company’s former CEO moved to liquidate the company. A federal judge granted a motion last week to convert the bankruptcy from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7. That means that instead of exiting bankruptcy as a new company with less debt, […] By Sydney Boles Dec 2 Economy Blackjewel Coal Moves To Liquidate, Leaving Millions Unpaid To Workers And Regulators Sydney Boles
Nov 23 Health Lawmakers, Union Urge Mine Safety Regulators to Act on Silica Dust A group of Ohio Valley senators says a watchdog agency’s recent report shows that federal regulators must do more to protect coal miners from silica dust, an especially toxic form of dust created when mining equipment cuts into rock layers near coal seams. In a Monday morning press release, six Democratic senators, including Joe Manchin […] By Sydney Boles Nov 23 Health Lawmakers, Union Urge Mine Safety Regulators to Act on Silica Dust Sydney Boles
Nov 3 Energy & Environment Coal Education Group Pivots to Entrepreneurship An eastern Kentucky nonprofit that has long promoted coal to school kids is now promoting innovation and entrepreneurship instead. Pikeville-based CEDAR Inc. was founded in 1993 with the purpose of “improving the image of the Coal Industry.” It did this through programs like the annual Coal Fair and a coal education curriculum provided to qualifying […] By Sydney Boles Nov 3 Energy & Environment Coal Education Group Pivots to Entrepreneurship Sydney Boles
Oct 28 Energy & Environment Advocates Say Citizen Mining Complaint Process Weakened By Rule Change Environmental and community advocates in Appalachian coal communities are concerned about a new federal rule, finalized this week, that is changing the process that allows citizens to file complaints about polluting coal mining operations. The Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement said in a Tuesday press release that the changes […] By Brittany Patterson Oct 28 Energy & Environment Advocates Say Citizen Mining Complaint Process Weakened By Rule Change Brittany Patterson
Oct 25 Energy & Environment Ohio Valley Coal Mine Executive Bob Murray Dead at 80 Robert E. Murray, the founder and former president and CEO of Murray Energy Corp., formerly the largest privately-held underground coal company in the country, has died. He was 80 years old. Murray’s death was reported Sunday evening by television stations WTOV9 in Steubenville, Ohio, and WOWK in Huntington, West Virginia. According to the news outlets, […] By Brittany Patterson Oct 25 Energy & Environment Ohio Valley Coal Mine Executive Bob Murray Dead at 80 Brittany Patterson
Oct 23 Democracy & Civic Life From Appalachia To Wyoming: Youth From Coal Country Discuss The Future After Coal On a recent Saturday, over Zoom, a group of seven high schoolers from Wyoming, eastern Kentucky and West Virginia gazed at an image of a gleaming, pale blue, coal-fired power plant. “OK, so this one really interested us,” said Sarah Belcher, a senior from eastern Kentucky. “So we noticed your all’s coal facilities, they’re really […] By Brittany Patterson Oct 23 Democracy & Civic Life From Appalachia To Wyoming: Youth From Coal Country Discuss The Future After Coal Brittany Patterson
Oct 19 Energy & Environment Bob Murray Announces Retirement From Coal Company He Founded After applying for black lung benefits, Robert Murray, founder and former president of the now-bankrupt coal company Murray Energy Corp., announced Monday he was leaving the business after more than 60 years in the industry. Murray Energy emerged from bankruptcy protection last month as American Consolidated Natural Resources (ACNR). The 80-year-old Murray was named chairman […] By Brittany Patterson Oct 19 Energy & Environment Bob Murray Announces Retirement From Coal Company He Founded Brittany Patterson
Oct 16 Economy ARC Investing Over 15 Million In Ohio Valley Economic Projects The Appalachian Regional Commission is investing another $43.3 million in communities affected by the downturn of the coal industry. The latest POWER grants from the ARC will support 51 projects in coal-dependent communities, including over $15 million for 20 projects in the Ohio Valley. The investments are going towards projects that will support broadband expansion, […] By Alana Watson Oct 16 Economy ARC Investing Over 15 Million In Ohio Valley Economic Projects Alana Watson
Oct 15 Energy & Environment Environmental Risks Remain As Blackjewel Bankruptcy Nears Its End Environmental advocates worry a coal company liquidation plan will leave dozens of coal permits in eastern Kentucky unreclaimed, according to filings in the bankruptcy proceedings of Blackjewel L.L.C. The bankruptcy case has dragged on since last July, when the once-mighty coal company’s Chapter 11 filing left hundreds of Appalachian coal miners suddenly without work, and […] By Sydney Boles Oct 15 Energy & Environment Environmental Risks Remain As Blackjewel Bankruptcy Nears Its End Sydney Boles
Sep 30 Energy & Environment Bob Murray, Who Fought Black Lung Regulations As A Coal Operator, Has Filed For Black Lung Benefits Robert E. Murray, the former CEO and president of the now-bankrupt Murray Energy, has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Labor for black lung benefits. For years, Murray and his company fought against federal mine safety regulations aimed at reducing the debilitating disease. “I founded the company and created 8,000 jobs there until […] By Brittany Patterson and Dave Mistich Sep 30 Energy & Environment Bob Murray, Who Fought Black Lung Regulations As A Coal Operator, Has Filed For Black Lung Benefits Brittany Patterson and Dave Mistich