Legislature 2008: Coal

While Gov. Joe Manchin touched on such topics as clean coal technology and climate change in Wednesday's State of the State, he detailed his goal to make "coal the centerpiece of national energy policy" at the 35th West Virginia Mining Symposium.

"Manchin said he envisions a plan that relies on technology to produce cleaner electricity as well as motor fuels and natural gas from coal," reports Tim Huber, business writer for The Associated Press. "Any plan also would need to include natural gas, crude oil and alternative fuels such as biomass, wind and solar."

(Huber also reports in a separate, related story that off-again, on-again federal mine safety chief Richard Stickler said at the Thursday forum in Charleston that his agency " is on track to carry out required quarterly inspections at all U.S. underground coal mines for the first time in years.")

But state environmental groups aren't buying into the governor's energy strategy, and "oppose Manchin's pursuit of coal-to-liquid technology as unproven and costly," AP reports.

The West Virginia Environmental Council unveiled its "Citizens' Energy Plan" at a Capitol event Thursday.

"Among other measures, it would make public buildings more efficient, promote conservation and link a vehicle's registration fee to its fuel efficiency instead of it value," AP reports. The plan also "would require power plants to tap renewables for 25 percent of their output, buying at least some of that from local producers, by 2025."

The Charleston Gazette focuses separate articles on the WVEC plan and Stickler's mine inspection comments. MetroNews also covered the symposium, and has audio of W.Va. Coal Association Vice President Chris Hamilton.

And in a coal-related issue, AP reports that Manchin has proposed a bill targeting air packs thefts. The measure "would add underground coal mines to homes, stores and other structures already protected by West Virginia's felony breaking and entering law."