September 6th, 2013 by WCBC Radio
With Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties not directly involved with coal mining or production, it came as a surprise to some that the West Virginia Coal Forum chose to host a meeting in Martinsburg. However, during Wednesday's forum, speakers emphasized that the coal industry and its impact affect residents throughout the state and that the future of the coal industry will have an influence on the Eastern Panhandle's future and funding. One of the direct effects of the state's coal industry for the Eastern Panhandle discussed at the forum was through the money provided to local governments by the coal severance tax. The two main topics discussed that affect the state's coal industry were the importance of coal as a state resource and exporting coal globally. West Virginia is the second leading coal-producing state in the nation, and the leading underground producing state. Coal is produced in 28 West Virginia counties. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has been an outspoken critics of the Obama administration and the EPA when it comes to the coal industry- pushing for what he calls industry killing regulations.
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