Listen Now: Morning News

Miners put face on Clean Power rules on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  A group of coal miners and company workers with Alpha Natural Resources sat together in a U.S. Senate committee hearing room Wednesday in Washington, D.C. as senators discussed the federal EPA’s recently released Clean Power rules.

The hearing, titled “Climate Change: The Need to Act Now” was held by the Senate’s subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety.

“I think we made a little bit of an impact by just being there in support of our industry,” Alpha worker Stan Wonnell of Huntington, one of the 70 on the trip, said.

EPA administrator Gina McCarthy introduced the proposed rules earlier this month. She said they will reduce carbon emissions at coal-fired power plants. She said in a tweet Wednesday the rules are not a war on coal.

“Can’t be more clear there is no war on coal. Clean Power Plan is about reducing pollution and fighting for public health,” McCarthy wrote.

Coal supporters have said the technology is not reliable to meet the new requirements and the proposed rule would essential close exiting coal-fired plants.

Wonnell said members of Congress need to see the EPA’s decisions impact real people.

“I definitely think it sends a message and I hope it really does make an impact,” he told MetroNews. “These are the things we need to do. We need to get out there. We need to be in the public view. We need to tell them what our story is.”





More News

News
MetroNews This Morning 3-28-24
Summary of West Virginia news/sports/weather for Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024 - 6:25 am
News
PSC approves settlements involving Mon Power, net-metering cases
Rate increase went into effect Tuesday.
March 27, 2024 - 9:42 pm
News
Speakers at Focus Forward symposium discuss AI capabilities in West Virginia
The event was organized by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
March 27, 2024 - 8:30 pm
News
Justice vetoes vaccination exemption bill, draws praise from healthcare groups
Educational and healthcare organizations banded together to urge a veto.
March 27, 2024 - 6:35 pm


Your Comments