Published: January 10, 2009 09:51 pm      

Raney concerned about Waxman

House committee chair ‘has got to have a better understanding’

One isn’t likely to spy a Friends of Coal decal on the personal motor vehicle of Henry Waxman or, for that matter, the larger variety firmly planted in the yard of the California congressman’s home.

Based on his rhetoric and proposals, Waxman is the bane of the industry, and as a new administration moves into power, concern has mounted over just what lies in coal’s future.

Waxman is a major concern now that the liberal Democrat has been appointed to head the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Anything that even remotely has to deal with coal production must pass through his panel, and Waxman, by virtue of his wielding the gavel there, can impose a major influence on any such legislation.

“I’m not sure how you style a threat,” replied Bill Raney, head of the West Virginia Coal Association, when asked if he viewed Waxman as such.

“Certainly, when you bring in that perspective from California, it’s certainly very shallow on the recognition, the importance of the coal industry, for the rest of the country.”

Anti-coal sentiment also has emanated on occasion from the incoming new chief executive, Barack Obama, and some within the industry are nervous about what to expect, particularly in regard to clean coal technology.

Raney says he doesn’t believe industry critics have a grasp on the critical role coal must play, not only in holding together a jittery economy but in keeping America secure at a time of global upheaval and relentless attacks by foreign terrorists.

“I think Waxman has got to have a better understanding, and when he moves into a leadership role, then I think he has a responsibility to learn it,” the industry leader said.

“You’ve got to look at the whole sweep of energy opportunities. You can’t just turn around and say we’re going to get rid of one or try to get rid of one in favor of another until you prove it out. It’s a concern because I think the history reflects the fact that he’s taken some pretty draconian stands on some of these issues. On some, he seems not to be comprehensive at all in the sense of what the leadership ought to be reflecting.”

If the industry has an ace in the hole, it could lie in Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who chairs the Committee on Natural Resources.

“I think Rep. Rahall is going to be very, very instrumental and very important in making sure Congressman Waxman understands how critical the coal industry is to the economy and how critical our people are to the energy security of this nation,” Raney said.

Rahall’s 3rd District poured more coal into the market than any district in the country, he noted.

From his Washington office, Rahall called Waxman “a fair and decent man,” one with whom he has worked a number of years.

“As chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, I will have many opportunities to work closely with Henry as he leads the Energy and Commerce Committee, and I am confident that the common interests of our committees and our good working relationship will be beneficial to our state and to coal,” Rahall added in a brief statement.

For the record, coal provides 52 percent of the nation’s energy needs, and West Virginia ranks second in production, trailing only Wyoming.

At a time when the financial and automobile communities are in line for taxpayer bailouts, the energy industry is thriving, and there is no stronger evidence than in West Virginia, which saw the new year arrive with a projected budget surplus of $75 million. Waxman’s home state is staggering under a near $8 billion deficit, Raney pointed out.

Rather than punish coal, Raney said, leaders need to take advantage of its success that has been maintained for a century and a half.

“The Democratic leadership of Congress, the Democratic leadership of this country, has got to recognize that,” he said.

“And the most important component of that is the professionalism of our people, the stewardship they practice, the pride they take in what they do. They want to do the right thing. So if somebody has got a problem with it, let’s sit down and address it. Let’s don’t just start lopping them off and getting rid of certain things. That’s just very shortsighted.”

Raney said the industry hopes to get “a balanced approach” from the Obama administration with recognition that coal is critical to the country’s survival.

“You’ve got to ask yourself — what 12 hours of the day do you not want electricity and do people want to do that?” he said.

Raney said all members of the energy family are needed — wind, solar, nuclear, hydro and biomass — and many are attainable in this state.

Some 20,000 residents depend on coal for a livelihood in West Virginia every day, and Raney says all are concerned about the environment in which they live.

“There’s a lot of pride,” he said. “Most of the stone throwing is done by people who have never been here to look around and really visit and get to know our people. It’s frustrating.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com