This news story originally provided by The Charleston Gazette

April 1, 2005

Miners, management extol their friendship with coal

By Christian Giggenbach/register-herald reporter

Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, speaks to a crowd of about 1,000 at Thursday's Friends of Coal rally on the steps of the state Capitol. Listening are, from left, former WVU football coach Don Nehlen (partially hidden by Raney), WVCA Vice President Chris Hamilton, Secretary of State Betty Ireland, Gov. Joe Manchin and former Marshall football coach Bob Pruett. Miners and management gathered at the Capitol during Friends of Coal Day and discussed issues with lawmakers. (Christian Giggenbach/The Register-Herald)

CHARLESTON - Miners and management alike flooded the steps of the state Capitol Thursday, clad in "Friends of Coal" T-shirts and waving "Coal feeds my family" signs at a rally of the powerful Friends of Coal organization.

The rally highlighted "Friends of Coal Day" at the Legislature and gave members of the coal industry an opportunity to make their concerns known to lawmakers.

The Mountaineer Food Bank conducted a food drive during the rally and expected to collect up to 1,800 pounds of canned food from the participants.

With the backdrop of a huge American flag spanning the majority of the front of the Capitol, West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney took the podium to speak of the importance of coal to West Virginia.

"You show your pride each day by being the best in the world at coal mining," Raney told the partisan crowd. "You're tough, you're energetic and you love West Virginia."

Raney spoke of the need for lawmakers to pass legislation which keeps West Virginia coal competitive in the world market.

"There is a lot of work to be done by the Legislature for West Virginia to stay competitive," Raney said. "We must make sure that West Virginia coal can be sold in the world market and let us remain the energy center of America."

The industry is in a boom cycle in West Virginia as the price of coal has nearly doubled within the last two years.

Gov. Joe Manchin - a strong supporter of coal - made it clear the future of West Virginia is linked to coal.

"We know we can compete in the world market," Manchin said. "We are changing the way we do business in the state to a common sense approach."

Manchin then made a plea for citizens to help pass the referendum up for a vote June 25 to determine whether the state can borrow nearly $5 billion to bail state pension plans which have billions in unfunded liabilities.

Manchin next presented a proclamation to Raney thanking the coal industry for its contribution to the state.

Protesters staged a demonstration immediately after the rally disbanded. Bo Webb, organizer and president of Coal River Mountain Watch, announced that a "Mountain Justice Summer" tour will be held across the state and region.

"Our goal is to bring awareness to the public and counter the propaganda of the coal barons who don't care about human beings," he said.

- E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com