HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 62

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss and Delegates

Frederick, Flanigan and Wills)


[Introduced April 4, 2001; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]

Requesting the President, Vice President and all members of Congress to include West Virginia coal as a major component of the nation's new energy policy.

Whereas, In 1977, America imported 48% of its oil (8.8 million barrels a day) from abroad. President Carter, like presidents Ford and Nixon before him argued that our reliance on imported oil endangered our economic stability and our national security. All three of these presidents advocated the creation of a national energy policy to encourage movement towards energy self-sufficiency for America; and
Whereas, In the year 2000, America imported 57% of its oil (11 million barrels a day), and we are again desperate for a meaningful national energy policy. Unless we take action to become less reliant on foreign supplies, it is projected that we will import 62% or more of our oil by the end of this decade. President Bush's renewed call for a national energy policy is an opportunity for West Virginia and the nation to take advantage of our most abundant domestic fuel resources: Coal; and
Whereas, Making up 95% of America's fossil fuel resources, coal is our most abundant conventional energy source. While the demand for natural gas exceeds known reserves, the 300 billion recoverable tons of coal in the United States are expected to last for 250 years. Over a quarter of the world's coal is found in the United States. American coal can be mined and burned in America. It is, and can continue to be, sold and exported overseas, which reduces America's trade deficit; in fact, West Virginia exports more coal than any other state in America; and
Whereas, Inexpensive and dependable electric power is fundamental to America's economic vitality, fueling heavy industry and electronic commerce alike. As our economy expands, we need affordable power to keep it growing, and no other nation enjoys the low cost of industrial power that America does. Paying an average of 4.4 cents per kilowatt hour, American industries have an advantage over their Japanese competitors, who pay 14.6 cents for the same amount of energy. We have this advantage over Japan and other countries because we burn coal cleanly and efficiently. The severe energy shortages that California suffered this year demonstrates that a growing economy needs affordable, coal-generated electricity in this energy supply, especially when other sources of power become scarce and expensive. Coal is at the heart of our energy supply, providing 56% of the nation's electricity, compared to the 9% that comes from natural gas. That is over half of the electricity used by American businesses, whether to manufacture cars or to power the internet. Of the 25 power plants that produced the lowest cost electricity in 1998, 22 of them burned coal. Coal costs less than a third of what natural gas or oil costs to produce the same amount of thermal energy. Thanks to the efficiency of America's coal miners, and especially West Virginia's miners and mining technology, coal remains by far our most affordable energy resource. No one is better at producing low-cost electricity than West Virginia coal miners. They are the best in the world at what they do; and
Whereas, As our demand for energy increases, we must find ways to meet that demand while protecting the quality of our environment. Over the last 30 years, coal-burning power plants have decreased measurable particulate matter emissions by 84% and decreased sulfur dioxide emissions by almost 21% even as coal consumption tripled (from 320 million tons to 933 million tons). The significant reduced pollution is a direct result of innovations in, and the implementation of,"clean coal" technology, in which the coal industry has invested $50 billion. Senator Byrd has introduced a bill that provides $1.1 billion to fund further research, so that by learning to burn coal more efficiently, we can produce more low-cost electricity with less environmental impact. President Bush has proposed a $2 billion clean coal research package; and
Whereas, Our national security is in serious jeopardy because we import so much oil. America needs an energy policy that will reduce our dependency on foreign oil and take advantage of our abundant supply of coal. The wise use of coal can mean more than just a stable supply of energy -- it can mean a robust economy and the job creation that comes with it. It can lead to new, high- paying jobs in mining, research, and power production all over America. Even as we explore new sources of alternative energy, we need to build efficient and environmentally sound coal-burning plants to meet their demand for electricity. West Virginia is second to last among the states in per capita income and has the highest unemployment rate. Many new jobs in coal mining research, electric power production, and related industries can be created in West Virginia if coal is given its proper place in a national energy policy and in a state energy policy, as Governor Wise has proposed. Coal can provide us with generations of clean, affordable power, mined and produced by West Virginia's greatest natural resource -- its people; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the President, Vice President and all members of Congress are urged to include West Virginia coal as a major component of the nation's new energy policy. In other words, "Let's do what's right for America and for West Virginia: Let's Dig Coal!"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk forward a copy of this Resolution to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, the West Virginia delegation to Congress and the other members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.