Union leader for mine workers says new EPA rule will put 'a nail in the coffin for coal mining'; critics vow to fight it

Cecil Roberts

A new rule by the Environmental Protection Agency could leave thousands of mine workers unemployed, say critics who have vowed to fight the change. "United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts contends newly-final federal rules on power plants represent a nail in the coffin for coal mining," reports Brad McElhinny of MetroNews, which serves West Virginia. "Under the EPA rule, coal plants that plan to stay open beyond 2039 would have to cut or capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2032."

Roberts told McElhinny, "At first glance, however, this rule looks to set the funeral date for thermal coal mining in America for 2032 – just seven and a half years away – along with the hundreds of thousands of jobs that are directly and indirectly associated with it." McElhinney reports, "EPA's rules come under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. EPA described the announcement as providing regulatory certainty as the power sector makes long-term investments in the transition to a clean energy economy."

As the EPA pushes for renewable energy, people like Roberts are skeptical that the investments and technology are ready for transition. "Roberts expressed doubt that technological innovations like carbon capture and storage are truly feasible or affordable as a way of continuing to use fossil fuels," McElhinny writes. Roberts said, "Since we don't have the technology, it looks to us as if 2032, if this rule stands as us, coal power plants couldn't operate after 2032."

The region will face more joblessness and poverty without new jobs provided through energy investments into new technology. Robert told McElhinny: "I'm not trying to pick a fight with anybody, but I'm not going to mislead anybody either. Part of the understanding was there would be jobs come to Appalachia — anywhere coal is currently being mined where power plants might close, coal mines might close — there would be good-paying union jobs to take their place. That has not happened."

Several West Virginia lawmakers and leaders have vowed to work against the new rule, including U.S. Sen.  Shelley Moore Capito, ranking member of the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.