Published: November 15, 2008 09:20 pm         

Our Readers Speak - Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008

What will we do when coal is gone?



I would like address the issues of this article that states 78 percent believe the coal industry is the biggest contributor to the state’s economy. Then why are there only 19,650 people employed by the coal industry? Out of 796,530 people employed statewide?

Fifty-nine percent said the industry is their local economy’s biggest contributor. I live in Whitesville where a big portion of coal is mined. Come and see what the industry has done for my community, and surrounding areas.

Whitesville is a ghost town.

Eighty-six percent believe “clean coal” technology is the best way to grow the state economy and create jobs. It is dirty when they blow up the mountains to mine it. It is dirty when they pump toxic waste up a mountain from the process of “cleaning it.” And it also dirty when they burn it in coal-fired power plants and disposes of the ash. Coal is dirty!

Eighty-five percent think the industry is doing a better job protecting the environment than 20 years ago. Mountaintop removal is new in the industry and 470-plus mountains have been destroyed. With 1,500-plus miles of streams buried, let alone billions of hardwood timbers cut down, piled up and buried. How is that protecting the environment?

Seventy-seven percent say converting coal-to-liquid fuel is among the best ways to reduce gasoline costs and become less dependent on foreign oil. These facts are based on 10 percent of the oil consumed. For each gallon of coal fuel produced consumes 10 gallons of water. The energy cost to power one plant would be around $4 billion a year. And 200 million tons of CO2 would be emitted from one plant.

Seventy percent say the governor and Legislature should promote the coal industry as a means to improve the economy. The governor and Legislature should look into green jobs, renewable energy and sustainable communities for our future generations.

In my opinion, 95 percent of the media in the state of West Virginia are owned or influence by the coal industry. If the people had as much money for TV ads as the coal industry has, we citizens would have booted the coal industry and their corrupt politicians out of our state years ago.

When the coal is gone what will we do?

“Our choices at all levels — individual, community, corporate and government — affect nature. And they affect us.” — David Suzuki.



Ben Webb

Naoma



W.Va. automotive retailing needs aid



Much is being said and done on behalf of the automobile manufacturers. We agree that this industry is vital to the well-being of America and American businesses. The automotive industry touches everyone — the employees, the local governmental agencies, community and charity organizations, but, most importantly, every citizen. Providing transportation to the everyday person is the mission of the automotive industry. West Virginia is particularly impacted by the automotive industry. We do not have the mass transit system to enable our citizens and employees to have alternative methods of transportation. West Virginians must have private transportation to meet their daily needs, employment, family transportation to doctor’s appointments, food shopping, etc.

Having said that, there are some very important points and considerations that must be considered. What about the local automobile and truck dealer? Franchised dealers currently provide almost 7,000 good-paying jobs with annual payrolls of $233 million that goes into the economy. What about the consumers and the purchasers of vehicles? Where are the considerations for the small business persons, the automobile and truck dealers, in regard to a business stabilization program in the form of a dealer loan guarantee program through the Small Business Administration? Freeing up dealer credit for business operations would assist with keeping employees on the payroll.

Areas for consideration could be: work with Congress and West Virginia governments to enact a broad economic stimulus for automotive retailing this year, which would include West Virginia government this year, which would include:

- Providing refundable tax credits for vehicle buyers.

- Restoring the deductibility for interest on consumer vehicle loans.

- Funding “cash for clunkers” programs that encourage consumers to upgrade to newer vehicles. Newer vehicles are more economical to operate and much more environmental-friendly.

Now is the time to give families the extra financial incentive to buy a new vehicle and to provide dealers the access to capital they need to keep their businesses running and their work forces employed. We urge swift action by both our federal and state officials to assist in the time of emergency.



Ruth Lemmon

President

West Virginia Automobile & Truck Dealers Association

Charleston