Rough Crowd for Manchin's Coal Plan

Gov. Joe Manchin is facing a tough sell as he pushes a state energy plan that hinges on " increasing coal production by building plants to turn coal into liquid fuel," The Charleston Gazette reports.

At Thursday's Public Energy Authority hearing, the last of three held to air the topic, "residents repeatedly attacked Manchin’s blueprint," the Gazette reports.

"Only Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, spoke specifically in favor of Manchin’s focus on building coal-to-liquids plants."

A second lobbyist, Corky DeMarco of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, echoed Raney's praise of Manchin for sticking with the state's fossil fuel industries.

A third, Bryan Brown, "said he was with a new group called West Virginians for Reliable Power," the article said. "Brown urged the energy authority to add language supporting the need for improved energy infrastructure, such as new power transmission lines."