Published: September 28, 2006 10:53 pm      

Manchin: Change emerging

Coal symposium hears optimistic formula for state, energy strategies

BLUEFIELD — “While some refer to the oil risks and challenges the nation faces as an ‘energy crisis,’ this is misleading. What we face is the ominous prospect of crippling oil and liquid fuel shortages and soaring, volatile prices.”

Gov. Joe Manchin Thursday night detailed the national energy challenges and West Virginia’s role in pushing for solutions. His report was underpinned by safety issues and progress made since the Sago mining tragedy that killed 16 miners.

More than 200 mining industry leaders heard Manchin’s major address, a key event of the three-day Bluefield Coal Symposium.

Manchin told his attentive audience at the Bluefield Holiday Inn that new oil discoveries “are not keeping up with historic world increases in oil consumption, driven by the United States, China and India.

“To mitigate these unprecedented risks and to provide for future economic prosperity and national security, we must reduce our growing dependence on foreign oil suppliers by producing our own liquid fuels from domestic sources,” he said.

He cited the progress in liquefaction technology, and the hopes for West Virginia’s sharing a major stakes in its development.

Manchin, chairman of the Southern States Energy Board, called for all 50 states to develop individual energy policies that could be the basis for formulating a national policy, drawing on the best of each state. “The federal government isn’t going to do it for us,” he said.

“What you’re seeing now is movement among states to partner and work toward the development of a national energy policy that makes sense for America,” he said.

“During this past year, the Southern States Energy Board conducted The American Energy Security Study, outlining a plan for the United States to achieve energy security and independence through the production of alternative oil and liquid transportation fuels from our domestic resources, including coal, biomass and oil shale,” he said. “Our plan also highlights the importance of increased transportation fuel efficiency, sensible energy conservation, and improved domestic enhanced oil and coal bed methane recovery programs through carbon dioxide injection.”

West Virginia has a significant role in the national urgency for energy independence, Manchin emphasized. “I can tell you that we are working diligently across state lines and regional boundaries in finding common ground,” he said.

“As a coal producing leader, West Virginia is working hard to ensure adequate coal supplies for our energy dependent industries, primarily electric utilities providers such as AEP and GE,” he said. “We also want more utilities to consider polygen, coal-based plants that not only produce electricity but also by-products such as highly clean and efficient diesel fuel, something that looks to become a very big part of the economy of West Virginia and the region,” he added.

He touched on his recent visit to Wyoming. When he saw 70-foot coal seams, he said he immediately realized that “hey, we can’t compete with this. We need to be partners.”

The partnership theme was common throughout his presentation, including interstate cooperation, and especially a unity of common-sense purpose across West Virginia.

Early in his speech, Manchin emphasized that the “hard work by West Virginians” will be matched with aggressive pursuit of new safety standards, not only in mining, but in all workplaces.

He related in detail to a somber crowd the experiences — and lessons — of the Sago mine explosion and the fire at the Aracoma Mine earlier this year. “No one associated with our state’s coal industry will ever forget the early months of 2006 as we experienced a series of mining tragedies — notably the Sago Mine explosion that took the lives of 12 miners and the fire at the Aracoma (Alma) Mine that claimed two lives,” he said.

Dealing with the Sago disaster was especially difficult, he said. “I felt that I could be of assistance after having experienced personal loss during the 1968 Farmington disaster.”

“But,” he said, “the situation became a feeding frenzy of national media. And, you know, no one gave me a book on how to deal with such a tragedy when I became governor. I did the best I could,” he said.

He pointed to the introduction and unanimous passage of Senate Bill 247 in the West Virginia Legislature on Jan. 23, which, he said, “was truly historic and set the tone for a series of reforms on both the state and federal level that will have a real and lasting impact on miners and their families for many years to come.”

He praised the bipartisan success of the legislation, and cited support from legislators in the audience, including Senators Truman Chafin, Don Caruth, and Delegates Eustace Frederick, Mike Porter and Marshall Long.

“You will also see us work over the next year to become a national leader in workplace safety in general as well,” he said. “And — we will certainly need your help in making that effort a success,” he added.

Near the conclusion of his presentation, Manchin reviewed the challenges he learned and the successes he’s realized as governor, which he called “the greatest job.” He said he always was a good salesman, and “being governor provides me with the best product: West Virginia.”

“As I’ve said from my first day as Governor, if West Virginia is going to move forward and build a positive economic future, everyone must be involved,” he said, declaring that “everyone is a stakeholder in this process — and if we are to build and sustain West Virginia’s economy of the future, everyone’s input is critical. Everyone must and will have a seat at our table,” he said. “And if you don’t show up, I’ll come and get you,” he added.

He said West Virginia is “so close to getting to the next level of economic success and truly being competitive with every other state in our nation.”

“We’re trying desperately to bring our people together,” he said.

He said his slogan “Open for business” means a change in attitude among government workers.”

“We’re all trained to make excuses for bad government, and that must be reversed,” he said.

“But,” he concluded, “This is a fight worth fighting for.”

Manchin was introduced by Marshall Miller of Marshall Miller and Associates of Bluefield, Va.

Daily Telegraph Publisher Randy Deason was moderator for the event.