May 21, 2010

ACARE Applauds Senator Inhofe for Exposing Coal Jobs Being Held Up by White House

The America Council for Affordable and Reliable Energy (ACARE) highlighted a new report released by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) and the Senate Committee for Environment and Public Works that detailed that the Obama Administration has held up 190 permits out of 235 permits that would produce over two billions tons of coal, support almost 18,000 jobs and 81 small businesses during this economy’s economic downturn in order to achieve their “green initiatives.”

Further, the report claims that one in four jobs in Appalachia and nationally one in six jobs could be placed in peril by this Administrations assault on coal by holding up permits through the 404 permitting process. A previous Penn State study has demonstrated that coal-mining jobs support 11 other jobs in such areas as trucking, railroads and equipment suppliers. By contracting these numbers from the Penn State study, this will lead to a further reduction of jobs equal to 162,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

ACARE President Mike Carey said, “Last month when I testified before Congress, I warned that the Obama Administration was waging a war against coal. This report published by Senator Inhofe shows definitely this Administration will stop at nothing to completely destroy the coal industry, no matter how many people are put out of work by their policies when our national unemployment hovers at ten percent. What’s more, this report clearly demonstrates that the expansion of coal could employ more people and help lead us out of this recession but, in the name of environmental correctness and stranglehold on business, the Obama Administration will not deviate from their green-job-killing agenda.”

The Obama Administration’s hold on these 190 permits jeopardizes half the coal production in Appalachia. Coal production accounts for half of the electricity generation in the United States. Simple supply and demand dictate that if there is less coal, prices will rise, causing electricity prices to increase. The policies of this Administration will have a direct impact on the price of electricity for every single person across the United States when we turn on the lights or turn down the air conditioner as summer approaches, in addition to the businesses that also rely on energy production. At a time when we can least afford it, this Administration is increasing the cost of energy to every American and business. The United States is the Saudi Arabia of coal and this Administration is systemically dismantling it.

ACARE is committed to providing America with the energy it needs, from coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, renewable sources and technologies yet to be invented. ACARE supports policies that make affordable and reliable energy a reality, energy that will fuel our high standard of living, protect a clean environment and serve as bridge to the future.