Thread: Coal Official Calls Obama Comments 'UNBELIEVABLE'

I think Obama just lost the coal miner's vote in Ohio and West Virginia and all the United Mine Workers of America!



Coal official calls Obama comments 'unbelievable'


11/2/2008 4:37 PM
By Chris Dickerson -Statehouse Bureau


CHARLESTON - At least one state coal industry leader said he was shocked by comments Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made earlier this year concerning his plan to aggressively charge polluters for carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

"What I've said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else's out there," Obama said in a Jan. 17 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle that was made public today first on the Web site newsbusters.org, which calls itself "the leader in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias." The story later was linked on The Drudge Report.

An audio excerpt from the interview can be found at YouTube.

"I was the first to call for a 100 percent auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter," Obama continued. "That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.

"So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted."

Calls and e-mails to West Virginia Obama campaign officials seeking comment for this story were not returned as of Sunday evening.

According to the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training, the coal industry provides about 40,000 direct jobs in the state, including those for miners, mine contractors, coal preparation plant employees and mine supply company workers.

West Virginia is the second largest coal-producing state in the country behind Wyoming and accounts for about 15 percent of all coal production in the United States. The Mountain State leads the nation in underground coal production and leads the nation in coal exports with over 50 million tons shipped to 23 countries. West Virginia accounts for about half of U.S. coal exports.

In addition, the coal industry pays about $70 million in property taxes in the state annually, and the Coal Severance Tax adds about $214 million into West Virginia's economy. The coal industry payroll in the state is nearly $2 billion per year, and coal is responsible for more than $3.5 billion annually in the gross state product.

"The only thing I've said with respect to coal, I haven't been some coal booster," Obama said in the San Francisco Chronicle interview. "What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as an ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it."

The senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association called Obama's comments "unbelievable."

"His comments are unfortunate," Chris Hamilton said Sunday, "and really reflect a very uninformed voice and perspective to coal specifically and energy generally."

Hamilton noted other times Obama and vice presidential candidate Joe Biden have made seemingly anti-coal statements.

"In Ohio recently, when Joe Biden said 'not here' about building coal-fired power plants -- this is exactly what will happen," Hamilton said. "Financing won't be directed here. It will all go aboard for plants elsewhere in the world. The United Sates is importing more coal today from Indonesia, South Africa and Colombia than we ever have.

"If we're going to create a situation where coal-fired power plants are at that much of a disadvantage, there will be new ones built. But as Biden said, just not here."

[b]Republican presidential candidate John McCain's state director said Obama's statements are troubling, especially for West Virginians.

"I think this clearly shows the attitude the Obama-Biden ticket has toward coal," Ben Beakes said Sunday. "Rhetoric is cheap, but behind closed doors what they tell their supporters - that's what we have to take as gospel.

"They're definitely not friends of coal."
Beakes noted other examples of Obama and Biden making seemingly anti-coal statements, such as in February when Obama said he'd like to tax "dirty energy" such as coal and natural gas.

"And their cohorts in Congress make similar statements," Beakes said. "(Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said this summer that 'coal makes us sick.'

"This is an attitude and view that, to me, shows their hatred of coal. And therefore, their view would cost West Virginians thousands upon thousands of jobs."

Beakes touted McCain's view toward coal.

"John McCain has embraced coal," Beakes said. "He doesn't agree with everything in the coal industry, but his view of coal is positive. He will make it part of his energy policy. He's met with leaders in the coal industry and let them know that. He's sought advice from coal industry leaders.

"McCain understands that coal supports about 49 percent of our electricity in this country. He'll continue to make coal important. He wants to reduce our foreign dependency on oil."

Hamilton also said the Obama campaign needs to find varied sources for coal and energy advice.

"If they're victorious Tuesday, they'd better go to someone other than Al Gore on energy and environmental matters," he said. "They've tipped the balance way -- unnecessarily so -- toward protecting the environment."


http://www.wvrecord.com/news/215679-coa ... believable

November 2, 2008, 4:11 PM

Palin Unleashes New Attack Against Obama On Coal

CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(MARIETTA, OHIO) - [b]Seizing on a newly released audio tape picked up by the Drudge Report, Sarah Palin took the opportunity here in coal country to accuse Barack Obama of “talking about bankrupting the coal industry.â€

We should not be allowed early voting.....all this stuff is surfacing too late....a lot of people already voted...

West Virginia is the second largest coal-producing state in the country behind Wyoming and accounts for about 15 percent of all coal production in the United States. The Mountain State leads the nation in underground coal production and leads the nation in coal exports with over 50 million tons shipped to 23 countries. West Virginia accounts for about half of U.S. coal exports.

In addition, the coal industry pays about $70 million in property taxes in the state annually, and the Coal Severance Tax adds about $214 million into West Virginia's economy. The coal industry payroll in the state is nearly $2 billion per year, and coal is responsible for more than $3.5 billion annually in the gross state product.

Importing foreign coal and destroying the economy of the coal mining states in ANTI-AMERICAN!

The senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association called Obama's comments "unbelievable."

"His comments are unfortunate," Chris Hamilton said Sunday, "and really reflect a very uninformed voice and perspective to coal specifically and energy generally."

Hamilton noted other times Obama and vice presidential candidate Joe Biden have made seemingly anti-coal statements.

"In Ohio recently, when Joe Biden said 'not here' about building coal-fired power plants -- this is exactly what will happen," Hamilton said. "Financing won't be directed here. It will all go aboard for plants elsewhere in the world. The United Sates is importing more coal today from Indonesia, South Africa and Colombia than we ever have. "If we're going to create a situation where coal-fired power plants are at that much of a disadvantage, there will be new ones built. But as Biden said, just not here."

So much for ENERGY INDEPENDENCE FROM OBAMA/BIDEN!

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with Obama's concern for the environment.

But one has to wonder if THIS has EVERYTHING to do with it.

Highly coincidental that, just as he is planning to literally bankrupt the coal industry in this country, coal production in Kenya is expected to soar:

Imagine the windfall for Kenya when Obama makes them the major importer of coal to the US.


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Kenya: Is Local Coal the Cure for Petrol Woes?


The Nation (Nairobi)

25 May 2008
Posted to the web 26 May 2008

Kitavi Mutua
Nairobi

The cost of manufacturing in Kenya could go down considerably once the country begins to exploit extensive coal reserves in Ukambani.

The coal deposits found in the swampy Mui basin in Kitui and Mwingi districts, is touted as the best alternative source of energy to cushion the economy against the adverse effects of high oil prices.


Energy experts say the discovery is also timely as the country needs a lot of energy to push the Vision 2030 development agenda.

Coal is the cheapest source of energy in the world, and its widespread use played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the mid-19th century.

Industrial revolution

Coal, which is currently imported from South Africa, is used in a variety of ways but mainly in the generation of electricity.

The discovery of the deposites of bituminous or soft coal at a shallow depth of 11 metres comes against a backdrop of escalating global oil prices that are having negative effects on the country's manufacturing, and transportation sectors.

Manufacturers are optimistic that once coal is used to generate energy, production costs could decline signficantly, resulting in a drop in prices of manufactured goods.

For example, players in the lucrative cement industry are confident that once Kenya starts using her own coal, cement prices could go down by more than a third.

Mr Pradeep Paunrana, managing director of Athi River Mining Company, says the high cost of coal imports contributes to more than half the total cecost of cement production through the manufacture of clinker.

"The cost of importing coal obviously determines the production costs and the trend in consumer prices," Mr Paunrana told Sunday Nation.

A ton of coal today goes for US$60 (Sh4,140), according to international market prices.

With additional freight and clearance charges, the total cost doubles by the time it reaches manufacturers in Kenya.

Shift gears

The MD of the cement firm confirmed to Sunday Nation that the price of coal accounts for up to 33 per cent of total cement production costs.

For instance, in Nairobi a 50 kg bag of Bamburi cement is retailing at an all-time high of Sh715 while Athi River's Rhino cement sells for Sh650.

If the government fast tracks coal mining plans, experts believe that retail prices for cement could be brought down to as low as Sh450.

The cost of electricity is also likely to come down as a consequence, it is predicted.

On its part, the government has decided to shift gears in terms of investing in electricity generation in the next 20 years, according to projections by the Ministry of Energy.

The plan shows that Sh133 billion will be pumped into coal projects to generate an additional 1,000 megawatts or about 20 per cent of the nation's electricity needs.

By then, Kenya will have an electricity generation capacity of 4,871 megawatts against a requirement of 4,620 megawatts.

At present, 67 per cent of total power is generated from hydro sources, 10 per cent from geothermal and 23 per cent from thermal which are sensitive to fluctuating international fuel prices.

Mr Alfred Odawa, the acting chief geologist at the Ministry of Energy, says the anticipated exploitation of coal would free some of the country's foreign exchange reserves for other purposes.

"With increasing world energy demand and rising oil prices, the exploitation of coal means that Kenya's industrial development will be achieved at a faster rate," he said.

With an indigenous source of energy, the country could be able to attain full industrial development by 2020, Mr Odawa said.

Exploratory drilling spearheaded by government geologists which began in 2001 has been yielding encouraging results raising hopes of Kenya becoming a coal producer.


Of the 30 test drills made to varying depths, geologists have so far encountered coal in 17 and inflammable gas in two others.

Exploration has been hampered by the lack of specialised drilling equipment, according to the Ministry of Energy.

Samples of the mineral deposits extracted during the exploration have been chemically analysed and found to meet the required standard - an average calorific value of 18MJ/Kg.


The samples were analysed by the University of Nairobi's Geology Department and in South Africa where for many years coal mining has been a major activity.

The government is finalising tender documents to invite fresh international bids from reputable firms to conduct estimations of coal reserves in the area and determine the economic viability of coal mining there.

Coal is formed in swamps and bogs where water is deficient in oxygen and where organic matter accumulates faster than it decomposes.

The swampy Mui basin stretches 55 kilometres across the two districts.

It is an elongated trough measuring about six kilometres wide with an estimated area of 400 square kilometres.

The basin has been sub-divided into Sombe, Kavati, Itiko, Mutito, Yoonye, Kateiko, Isekele and Kalunga sub-basins but activities are concentrated only in Kateiko and Yoonye.


It is an extension of the African Karoo formation which runs from South Africa to Somalia through Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.


allafrica.com/stories/200805260745.html -

So Obama wants to tax the crap out of American coal producers in the name of 'saving the environment', but still import tons and tons from AFRICA.

Hello?? Why isn't he running for president of Africa???

He has their interests at heart, not America's!

Originally Posted by grandmasmad

We should not be allowed early voting.....all this stuff is surfacing too late....a lot of people already voted...

I totally agree and would like to add that there should be a test given before being allowed to vote. If someone doesn't know who the running mate is of the presidential candidate of choice, then that someone is too stupid to vote. It's amazing how many voters don't know and don't care.

Related thread.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-136927.html