Members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW) will be gathering today in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to protest the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan.

Mike Caputo, vice president of UMW International District 31, will be one of the many Marion County and North Central West Virginia members participating in the rally and march at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Caputo said he’s expecting anywhere from 3,000-5,000 UMW miners and their families to participate.

“We’re going to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to peacefully petition our government,” he said.

On Wednesday, West Virginia miners and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, along with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, joined others in Pittsburgh for a rally to support American energy. Tomblin stated in a press release that Wednesday’s rally gave miners and others in attendance an opportunity to explain that the EPA should be working with them toward energy independence.

“If these rules are put into place, there is no question electricity rates will skyrocket,” Tomblin said. “These rate increases would become an unfair, unreasonable financial burden on hardworking people by taking money out of their pockets.”

During today’s rally, miners and UMW members will address their concerns about the new EPA regulations. The EPA’s Clean Power Plan was proposed June 2 and plans to cut carbon pollution from power plants and coal-fired power plants.

Caputo said it will greatly affect the men and women who work in coal mines. He said it will also impact the men and women who receive pension and health care from mines and are retired from working in mines.

“Our end estimates that this rule could cost 52,000 jobs in the coal mines, utility plants and railroads by as early as 2020,” Caputo said.

With the proposed plan, Caputo said it could impact several communities, including those in Marion County. He said the mine, utility plant and railroad industry have several spinoff industries that would be affected by the plan.

“With that, 160,000 jobs total could be lost because of this action if it is allowed to be implemented,” Caputo said. “We have a lot at risk here.”

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. David B. McKinley, R-W.Va., spoke out opposing the EPA’s proposed plan.

“To the unelected bureaucrats and the EPA I say, come to my district,” McKinley said in a press release. “They’ll find thousands of men, women and children whose lives have been ripped apart by the action of the EPA.”

McKinley said the coal mines and power plants that are threatened by the plan are in small towns like Mannington, Benwood and Grafton.

“These are small towns,” he said. “If you shut down a coal mine or a power plant, you shut down an entire community.”

U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., also spoke about the EPA’s proposed plan Wednesday. Rahall joined other members of the bipartisan Congressional Coal Caucus in Washington, D.C.

“Coal fuels our economic engine and fortifies our national defense,” Rahall said in a press release.

Rahall said the EPA “skipped right over coal country” when creating the plan.

“We want this EPA to take its proposed regulations on carbon emissions from existing and future power plants back to the drawing board,” he said.

Today, the UMW members will be holding a press conference, rally and march. The rally will begin at 11 a.m. with the march through downtown Pittsburgh to follow. Members will protest in front of the William S. Moorhead Federal Building.

Emily Gallagher is a writer for Times West Virginian

Recommended for you