Sep 16 Energy & Environment Murray Energy Exits Bankruptcy, Rehires Union Miners Coal mining giant Murray Energy Corp. has emerged from bankruptcy with a new name and a commitment to rehire all of its former union employees, according to a news release from the United Mine Workers of America. UMWA President Cecil Roberts said on Wednesday that a new collective bargaining agreement has been finalized between the […] By Brittany Patterson Sep 16 Energy & Environment Murray Energy Exits Bankruptcy, Rehires Union Miners Brittany Patterson
Sep 11 Energy & Environment Remembering A Miner Who Personified Coal’s Contributions And Costs Charles Wayne Stanley ran underground mining machines for some 20 years, cutting coal from beneath the hills where Virginia meets Kentucky along the Cumberland ridge. He spent another decade as a roof bolter, work that kept the rock above from falling in on his fellow miners. Stanley was 53 when the Ohio Valley ReSource and […] By Jeff Young Sep 11 Energy & Environment Remembering A Miner Who Personified Coal’s Contributions And Costs Jeff Young
Sep 2 Economy Former Blackjewel Miners Could Get More Money From Proposed Settlement A proposed $17.3 million settlement of a class action lawsuit would provide additional payment for hundreds of Appalachian coal miners who were suddenly left jobless by the abrupt bankruptcy of the Blackjewel mining company. The settlement must be approved by the judge overseeing the complicated Blackjewel bankruptcy case. Although it is not yet final, attorneys […] By Jeff Young Sep 2 Economy Former Blackjewel Miners Could Get More Money From Proposed Settlement Jeff Young
Aug 28 Democracy & Civic Life “False Hope” or Four More Years? Ohio Valley Stakeholders Reflect On Trump Energy Policy In 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump was all-in on the fossil fuel industry. In a 2016 rally in Charleston, West Virginia, the candidate proudly accepted an endorsement from that state’s coal association, donning a hardhat while he mimed digging coal. To thundering applause, he promised to bring back coal jobs to the struggling Appalachian coalfields. Four […] By Sydney Boles Aug 28 Democracy & Civic Life “False Hope” or Four More Years? Ohio Valley Stakeholders Reflect On Trump Energy Policy Sydney Boles
Aug 21 Democracy & Civic Life “The Proof Is In The Pudding.” Coal Country Responds To Democrats’ Clean Energy Transition Democrats made their pitch to the American people during a largely virtual Democratic National Convention and addressing climate change emerged as a central tenet of the party’s plan. The party platform spells out a major investment in green energy jobs and infrastructure in order for America to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emission no later than […] By Brittany Patterson Aug 21 Democracy & Civic Life “The Proof Is In The Pudding.” Coal Country Responds To Democrats’ Clean Energy Transition Brittany Patterson
Aug 21 Health Mine Safety Officials Won’t Do More to Protect Coal Miners from COVID-19, Letter Says The Mine Safety and Health Administration is declining to issue an emergency temporary standard that could protect coal miners whose jobs make them vulnerable to the coronavirus. That’s according to an August 14 letter from Department of Labor Deputy Assistant Secretary Joe Wheeler to West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. MSHA can issue emergency temporary standards […] By Sydney Boles Aug 21 Health Mine Safety Officials Won’t Do More to Protect Coal Miners from COVID-19, Letter Says Sydney Boles
Aug 10 Energy & Environment Contura Energy Will Accelerate Exit From Thermal Coal Business, Citing Global Transition Away From Fossil Fuels A major Ohio Valley coal producer announced last week it will speed up its exit from producing coal used to generate electricity. In a call with shareholders last week, Contura Energy, Inc., said the move is tied to the ongoing global transition away from fossil fuels. “We recognize that the world is transitioning toward an […] By Brittany Patterson Aug 10 Energy & Environment Contura Energy Will Accelerate Exit From Thermal Coal Business, Citing Global Transition Away From Fossil Fuels Brittany Patterson
Jul 24 Economy “No Pay, We Stay.” A Look Back At Miners’ Protest That Rocked Appalachia It’s a quiet, foggy morning on Highway 119 in Cumberland, Kentucky. A railroad track runs along the highway, and here, Sand Hill Bottom Road crosses the tracks and turns to the right, leaving a rough triangle of gravel spattered with trash. You can hear crickets chirping, birds twittering, cars passing on 119. A billboard advertises […] By Sydney Boles Jul 24 Economy “No Pay, We Stay.” A Look Back At Miners’ Protest That Rocked Appalachia Sydney Boles
Jul 24 Economy No Pay, We Stay: A Look Back at the 2019 Protest that Rocked Appalachia It’s a quiet, foggy morning on Highway 119 in Cumberland, Kentucky. A railroad track runs along the highway, and here, Sand Hill Bottom Road crosses the tracks and turns to the right, leaving a rough triangle of gravel spattered with trash. You can hear crickets chirping, birds twittering, cars passing on 119. A billboard advertises […] By Sydney Boles Jul 24 Economy No Pay, We Stay: A Look Back at the 2019 Protest that Rocked Appalachia Sydney Boles
Jul 23 Energy & Environment Coal Company Rhino Resource Partners Files For Bankruptcy Kentucky-based coal company Rhino Resource Partners LP filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Wednesday, joining a growing list of Ohio Valley coal producers seeking financial restructuring as the U.S. coal industry continues to struggle. According to court documents, the company and its subsidiaries currently employ about 550 workers at underground and surface mines located in […] By Brittany Patterson Jul 23 Energy & Environment Coal Company Rhino Resource Partners Files For Bankruptcy Brittany Patterson