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 of the United States, the 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 President Ford
and President 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 toward 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 resource: 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. United States coal continues to be sold and exported
overseas, which reduces America's trade deficit; in fact, West
Virginia exports more coal than any other state in the United
States; 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 does the United States. 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 shortage that California is suffering 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.
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