Coal

Coal severance taxes — which make up a significant portion of coalfield counties’ budgets and are used to spur economic development and build roads in the region — have significantly declined in recent years and localities are again bracing for a difficult budget year.

At the same time, lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly are fighting to maintain coal tax credits — which they say keep companies in the region, and therefore contribute to the local economy via coal severance taxes. Severance taxes are paid by the companies to the localities based on how much coal is sold each month.

VIRGINIA CITY, Va. — Dominion’s hybrid energy center near St. Paul likely won’t see any production-halting fallout from the struggling coal industry, which has resulted in several regional mine closings in the past year, center officials said last week.

That’s largely because the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, nearing its third year of operations, is tasked with burning waste, or gob, coal, said Preston Sloane, director of the fossil and hydro Station III.

BRISTOL, Va. — Alpha Natural Resources on Thursday announced a narrower net loss for the fourth quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013.

The net loss was $122 million, or 55 cents per diluted share in 2014, compared to a net loss of $1.62 per diluted share in 2013.

BRISTOL, Tenn., February 9, 2015 – The King Institute for Regional Economic Studies (KIRES) has released a new study. KIRES Report No. 12, “Replacing Coal Mining Jobs: Marginal Economic Impacts of Selected Industries in Southwest Virginia,” was prepared by Dr. Sam Evans, director of KIRES and associate professor of Finance and Economics, and Dr. Alexander Brumlik, assistant professor of Economics for King University’s School of Business and Economics, and by Kayla Ketron, a senior Accounting student at King University.

The authors note that coal mining has for generations been a key component of the economic base in Southwest Virginia. “There were around 12,000 coal mining jobs in the region just 25 years ago,” said Evans. “However, there has been a persistent decline in coal production and jobs over the past quarter century. The down trend was somewhat arrested during the 2010 through mid – 2012 period, but recent data show renewed losses in coal mining jobs over the past two years. The latest available jobs data as reported by the Virginia Employment Commission show that coal mining jobs during the second quarter of 2014 fell to around 3,500, a loss of 1,400 jobs since 2012.”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former coal company executive is seeking the dismissal of charges stemming from a 2010 mine explosion that killed 29 workers in West Virginia.

Don Blankenship, former chief executive officer of Massey Energy, also has asked the court to disqualify U.S. District Judge Irene Berger from hearing his case.

BECKLEY, W.Va. — The former coal executive charged in a 2010 mine explosion that killed 29 men is alleging Alpha Natural Resources has reneged on an agreement requiring the company to pay his mounting legal costs.

Ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship filed a lawsuit against the Bristol, Virginia-based company on Thursday.

BRISTOL, Va. — Bristol-based Alpha Natural Resources Inc. says it has notified workers at coal mines in two West Virginia counties that the company plans to idle their operations.

The decision will mean the loss of nearly 100 jobs.

CANONSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Consol Energy Inc. (CNX) on Friday reported fourth-quarter net income of $73.7 million.

On a per-share basis, the Canonsburg, Pennsylvania-based company said it had profit of 32 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 25 cents per share.

Another 150 coal miners were laid off in Buchanan County Thursday, making some 325 positions that have been cut as SunCoke Energy continues to downsize its coal production.

Dominion No. 30, near Oakwood, Virginia, has been idled, effective Thursday, said Steve Carlson, spokesman for SunCoke. Workers at nearby Dominion No. 7 and Dominion No. 34 were also cut, and those mines will be under the operation of a contractor starting in February, Carlson said.

RICHMOND, Va. -- The battle over tax credits is escalating in the General Assembly, as House Republicans rejected a proposal by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to scale back tax credits for coal companies and the electric utilities that burn coal.

At the same time, the governor's proposal to reduce tax credits for land preservation flew through the same House Finance subcommittee on Wednesday.

The population of a majority of Mountain Empire localities declined during the past four years, according to a new study.

Six Southwest Virginia counties and the city of Bristol, Virginia, saw populations decrease a combined 2,800 residents since the 2010 U.S. Census, while four counties and the city of Norton recorded modest gains totaling less than 500.

Republican U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, from Salem, and Bob Goodlatte, from Roanoke, issued a joint statement today, reacting to the news that Norfolk Southern Corp. will be closing its office building in Roanoke, impacting the jobs of all 500 employees working there.

“Norfolk Southern came to our region more than 130 years ago with the primary purpose of moving mineral resources," the congressmen said. "We are saddened by today’s news, and are committed to fighting to do what we can in Washington to keep and grow jobs in our region. Thankfully Norfolk Southern will continue to have a large presence in the Roanoke region, with approximately 1,200 positions unaffected by today’s news.

PRINCETON, Ind. — Federal mine safety officials have issued a new rule aimed at reducing crushing and pinning deaths caused by mining machinery.

The rule requires coal-digging machines called continuous miners to be fitted with a sensor system that can shut off the digger if a miner gets too close.

BRISTOL, Va. — Alpha Natural Resources Inc. says president Paul Vining is resigning to become CEO of another coal-related company.

The Bristol, Virginia-based coal producer said Tuesday that Vining is leaving the company effective Jan. 31.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The nation's coal mines set a record for the lowest number of on-the-job fatalities last year, with 16.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a news release Monday noting two fewer deaths than the previous low of 18 in 2009. The department says it's the lowest annual number of coal mining deaths ever recorded.

BRISTOL, Va. - Alpha Natural Resources has sold a Pennsylvania coal subsidiary to Rosebud Mining Company for $86 million.

Alpha announced the sale of AMFIRE Mining Company today in a written statement. The deal includes 10 mines and four preparation plants and loadouts in Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Elk, Greene, Indiana and Somerset counties. The transaction costs $75 million, plus certain liabilities.

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Federal regulators issued 199 citations during impact inspections of U.S. mines in November.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration conducted the inspections at 10 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines.

 ROANOKE, Va. -- The five activists who briefly blocked Jefferson Street over the summer — by hoisting a large banner between two buildings in protest of Roanoke-based coal magnate Jim Justice — appeared in court Thursday on the charges against them.

Judge Chris Clemens fined three of the defendants, threw out the charges against two more, and then offered a suggestion:

Some 175 Southwest Virginia miners lost their jobs Monday as SunCoke Energy officials announced the idling of three mines in Buchanan County.

Dominion No. 36, a mine owned by SunCoke subsidiary Dominion Coal Corp., will be completely idled, SunCoke spokesman Steve Carlson said Monday. Sections of two others, Dominion No. 7 and Dominion No. 30, will also be idled.

VANSANT, Va. -- Some 175 miners at three SunCoke Energy facilities were laid off today after their mines were idled, company officials announced this afternoon.

The Dominion No. 36 mine and parts of the Dominion No. 7 and Dominion No. 30 mines have been idled, said Steve Carlson, spokesman for SunCoke. He said those mines are all in far Southwest Virginia.

Eight West Virginia coal mines will continue operations, as their WARN notices have expired, Alpha Natural Resources officials announced Monday.

The 750 or so workers at those mines will continue to be employed, according to the announcement.

BRISTOL-- Eight coal mines in West Virginia will continue to operate following the expiration of WARN notices.

Alpha Natural Resources announced today the mines and approximately 750 workers will continue to operate. The longer-term plans for these mines will continue to depend upon market prices and demand, according to a written statement.

CARBO, Va. — One of the biggest polluters of the Clinch River is about to get cleaned up and generate electricity in the process.

A huge gob pile near Carbo in Russell County, about three-fourths of a mile long and containing as much as 1.5 million tons of waste coal, spills 100 tons — about the size of a train car — of fine pieces of coal into Dumps Creek each year. Dumps Creek feeds into the Clinch, carrying with it the particles of coal and leaching metals and other contaminants into the water.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Alpha Natural Resources has announced 60 layoffs at mining operations in Kentucky and West Virginia.

In West Virginia, the company says it will close part of a Wayne County mine and lay off 25 workers. It will also close part of the Ruby Energy mine in Mingo County and lay off 22 miners. One Delbarton Prep Plant worker will also be laid off.

Dominion Virginia Power customers would see their electricity bills go up about 30 percent by 2025 under proposed federal carbon emission regulations, state lawmakers learned Wednesday.

That would amount to about $400 a year in higher electricity bills for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month. Richmond-based Dominion Virginia Power is the state’s largest electric provider with 2.4 million customers.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The former CEO who oversaw the West Virginia mine that exploded in 2010, killing 29 people, was indicted Thursday on federal charges related to a mine safety investigation that followed the blast.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said a federal grand jury indicted former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship on charges that include conspiracy to violate mandatory federal mine safety and health standards, conspiracy to impede federal mine safety officials, making false statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities fraud.

WELCH, W.Va. (AP) — Alpha Natural Resources has idled an underground coal mine in southern West Virginia.

Alpha spokesman Steve Hawkins tells media outlets that the shutdown of the Brooks Run South Mining Cucumber operation is considered to be permanent.

Two events have been scheduled to help people learn more about the impact of the Feb. 2 coal ash spill from the closed Duke Energy plant in Eden, North Carolina.

“After the Spill: Our Future” is a panel discussion being presented by the Garden Club of Danville, Gabriella Garden Club and The Wednesday Club of Danville at The Wednesday Club, 1002 Main St., Danville, on Nov. 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Voters in Virginia’s 9th Congressional District will choose between two conservatives when they head to the polls Nov. 4.

Current U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, is running to keep his seat against challenger William Carr, an independent candidate from Ararat, Virginia. The Democratic Party does not have a candidate in this race.

BRISTOL, Va - Five Southwest Virginia facilities operated by Alpha Natural Resources and its affiliates have earned state recognition for safety.

Four mines and a processing plant were recognized by the Division of Mines Minerals and Energy for safety and performance, according to a written statement.

ROANOKE, Va. -- A group of protesters who unfurled a large banner criticizing coal magnate Jim Justice and the practices of his Roanoke-based mining company caused a spectacle in downtown Roanoke on Thursday morning, prompting a large police and fire response to take down the display.

Five people were brought away in handcuffs after the sign was strung between two midrise buildings shortly after 9 a.m., spanning busy Jefferson Street Southwest.