Coal country is still reeling from the decision of Sen. Joe Manchin to back a climate and energy package.
In the Mountain State, the once-burgeoning coal industry feels betrayed, displaced coal workers are celebrating the bill, and Republicans are licking their chops.
The permanent extension of a tax on coal companies that funds benefits for miners suffering from black lung disease is included in the inflation reduction act.
The extension of the black lung fund was hailed as a breakthrough victory by advocates, who warned Manchin that the benefits were at risk if the excise tax was not renewed.
We weren't sure what to think. Gary Hairston, the leader of the National Black Lung Association, said they thought it would be a four- or 10-year extension. We may not need to worry about it when we get it permanently.
Manchin made the tax permanent and pushed policies to subsidize alternative energy sources. The leaders of the coal groups wrote a letter saying that the excise tax would hurt their ability to compete and keep energy costs stable.
They wrote that the legislation left them with no one to call a friend.
The backlash from the coal industry, conservative groups and GOP lawmakers has opened up an opportunity for political challengers.
The congressman is running TV ads accusing the senator of crossing the state's coal industry in order to win the election in four years.
The ad says that Alex will not allow Joe Manchin and Joe Biden to destroy the coal industry.
The leader of the United Mine Workers of America, an ally of Manchin, called those criticisms an absolute bull.
The bill includes tax credits for carbon capture that could extend the life of coal plants and authorize $4 billion in tax credits for companies that create new clean energy jobs in coal communities.
Roberts said that he couldn't understand how politicians who care about working West Virginians can trash the bill. They should be thanking Manchin.
In a reply to the West Virginia Coal Association, Manchin noted that the excise tax has been extended at the same rate for nearly four decades and that coal companies can take advantage of a $5 billion fund in the climate bill to boost their efficiency.
Manchin told reporters on a recent conference call that coal operators were against paying the black lung fund.
Manchin said that despite his best efforts to boost coal, its prevalence has declined under both Democratic and Republican presidents.
The emergence of cleaner and more efficient energy sources has caused pain for coal mining companies in the region.
Estimates from the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training show that the West Virginia coal industry employed less than 12,000 people at its peak.
Despite opposition from the coal industry, West Virginia legislators have passed bills to increase solar projects.
A survey done by the Nature Conservancy and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce found that most West Virginians believe that the state should reduce its reliance on coal.
In West Virginia, people are interested in looking at what the new energy economy can bring to the state in terms of jobs and economic development.
As part of his climate deal, Manchin secured an agreement from Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer that Democrats will pass legislation to expedite approval of the Mountain ValleyPipeline, which spans hundreds of miles in West Virginia and Virginia.
The natural gas line would create 2,500 jobs in Manchin's home state and help make up for the decline of coal.
It is not clear if deep-red West Virginia will embrace Manchin's climate deal, given that his popularity soared around the time he told Democrats he couldn't support the $2 trillion build back better act.
Manchin's approval rating went up 17 points to 57 percent in the first quarter of 2021. As he railed against his own party's spending package, nearly 7 in 10 West Virginia Republicans supported him.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
