Obama-Casey War On Coal Claims More Pennsylvania Jobs

Erie County Republican Party

PITTSBURGH — Tom Smith, candidate for United States Senate and former coal miner and mine operator, today denounced the continued Obama-Casey war on coal, after Alpha Natural Resources announced its plan to close another 8 mines, costing 1,200 jobs.

“While unemployment has remained stagnant in excess of eight percent for more than 43 months, President Obama, Senator Casey, and their activist EPA continue to destroy good jobs through their attacks on domestic energy,” said Smith. “Today’s announcement means more hardworking Pennsylvanians will be receiving an unemployment check, instead of their paycheck. It’s time for Bob Casey to stand up to the President and stand for Pennsylvania jobs.”

BACKGROUND:

Alpha Closing 8 mines, Cutting 1,200 jobs In All. “Coal producer Alpha Natural Resources said Tuesday it’s cutting production by 16 million tons and eliminating 1,200 jobs companywide, including 400 with the immediate closing of eight mines in Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The mine shutdowns start Tuesday, while the rest of the layoffs will be completed by the end of the first quarter after Alpha fulfills current sales obligations, Chief Executive Officer Kevin Crutchfield said. In all, the layoffs amount to nearly a tenth of Alpha’s 13,000-person work force.” (“Alpha Closing 8 Mines, Cutting 1,200 Jobs In All,”Associated Press, 9/18/12)

The Obama Administration has clearly stated its intention to destroy the American coal industry.

Obama: “If somebody wants to build a coal powered plan they can, its just that it will bankrupt them.” (VIDEO)

Top EPA Official — “Painful” For “Communities Who Depend On Coal.” “Because you got to remember if you go to West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and all those places, you have coal communities who depend on coal. And to say that we just think those communities should just go away, we can’t do that.” (“Top EPA Official: Obama Coal Regs Will Be ‘Painful Every Step of the Way’ On Communities,” Fox News, 6/4/12)

Energy Information Administration Expects 175 Coal-Fired Generators To Retire Between 2012 And 2016. “Plant owners and operators report to EIA that they expect to retire almost 27 gigawatts (GW) of capacity from 175 coal-fired generators between 2012 and 2016. In 2011, there were 1,387 coal-fired generators in the United States, totaling almost 318 GW. The 27 GW of retiring capacity amounts to 8.5% of total 2011 coal-fired capacity.” (“27 Gigawatts Of Coal-Fired Capacity To Retire over The Next Five Years,” Energy Information Administration, 9/16/12)

Approximately 35 Percent of Pennsylvania Plants Will Have to Shut Down or Modernize to Meet the Regulations. “As for Pennsylvania’s plants, most upgrades have been made at the newer and larger ones. So about 65 percent of the state’s coal fired generating capacity already has controls that would meet the new regulations, said Douglas Biden, president of the Electric Power Generation Association, a Pennsylvania industry group.” (Sandy Bauers, “Pennsylvania Coal Plants Face Big Changes Under Planned EPA Pollution-Control Rules,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/30/10)

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