"COEBURN, Va. — Wearing helmets, headlamps and uniforms streaked with grime, the workers at Paramont Coal sound weary of fighting. They are in the middle of what they call a long-running 'war on coal' that is threatening their livelihood and stoking fury directed at the federal government."
"'When the president said that you can build a coal plant, but it’ll bankrupt you — he did a good job,' said Jack Blanton, 59, a supervisor at the Toms Creek plant, referring to remarks Barack Obama made as a candidate.
There is more than coal burning in America’s coal fields these days, and that anger could have an effect on November’s elections in coal-producing swing states such as Virginia. As coal companies idle mines and lay off workers, energy policy has become a hot topic in the U.S. Senate race between former governors Timothy M. Kaine (D) and George Allen (R)."
Fredrick Kunkle reports for the Washington Post September 23, 2012.
SEE ALSO:
"Campaigns Spar Over Coal's Future" (Wall St. Journal)
(You can get an "article free pass" for this subscription content by pasting the title into the Google search field and clicking on the result)
"Analysis: Coal Fight Looms, Keystone-Like, Over U.S. Northwest" (Reuters)
"AEP Argues EPA Carbon Rules Relies on Technology Not Yet Viable" (Bloomberg Businessweek)
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