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For Immediate Release:
May 14, 2016
Trump Offers Real Hope for Our Coalfield Communities
By Roger Horton, president
Citizens for Coal
Earlier this week, we launched Coal for Trump, an 
organization focused solely on the upcoming race for the presidency of the United States. We believe Donald Trump offers real hope to our coalfield communities. He has said clearly that he will push for the reining in and elimination of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – the rogue federal agency that has been used as a political weapon by the Obama Administration and the national Democratic Party against its political enemies – most notably America’s coal and energy industries.
Trump understands that America must rebuild its manufacturing base, and to do so it needs dependable American energy sources like coal. Without coal you can’t make steel. Without coal, our nation simply can’t keep its lights on and its engine of industry turning.
Yes, Hillary Clinton has promised to fund a $30 billion relief effort for the nation’s coalfields, but when you actually look at the programs she would include in this “coalfield relief” it becomes clear our mining communities in West Virginia would get pennies on the dollar for what they have taken from us. To put it in perspective, West Virginia’s coal industry provides $3.4 annually in wages alone and $26 billion in contributions to the state’s gross state product. Beyond that, Clinton says she wants to “retrain” coal miners – what exactly would they be retraining for? What about the homes, cars and possessions that would likely be lost? How about the damage done to these people’s lives? Ruined credit would prevent many from leaving even if they could find another job.
We don’t need band-aids. No matter how big they are, a band-aid won’t stop a hemorrhage. And we are hemorrhaging jobs across the coalfields. Our coal miners need to be unshackled and set free from the regulatory chains imposed on them by the Obama’s overseers at the EPA.
As a lifelong Democrat, I would never have believed a Democratic president — or ANY president — would intentionally destroy an entire segment of the nation’s economy. I would never have believed either national political party would do so, but that is exactly what the Obama Administration and the new leadership of the national Democratic Party has done. Now Hillary wants to continue and complete the work started by Obama. She gleefully said in Ohio that “we are going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of work.” Then – as an afterthought she offered a pat on the head and a “now be a good dog and go away.”
For these reasons, West Virginians MUST support Donald Trump in his bid to be the next president. We need to bring the nightmare of the past seven years to an end. The 11,000 unemployed coal miners and 50,000 service and contract workers currently laid off can’t afford to wait another year much less another four.
So we ask that you go to https://www.facebook.com/coal4trump/ and like Coal for Trump. We ask that you also join United Citizens for Coal at https://www.facebook.com/citizensforcoal/ and help us continue to fight for a future for our coal miners and coal communities.
Roger Horton, president
Citizens for Coal
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About
Citizens for Coal is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping maintain the vitality and productivity of the coal industry in West Virginia. Our organization consists of any member of the community that is involved directly or indirectly with the coal industry and understands its importance within our state’s economy.
Citizens for Coal is dedicated to promoting awareness and education of the importance of the coal industry for the continued growth and development of our state. As a group, we express our thoughts and concerns to law makers both at home and in our country’s capital whose decisions will have long-lasting impacts on our livelihoods. We foster a ‘we can’ mentality that reminds us all that together we can make a difference. We understand that coal can and should be mined using the most efficient and safe technologies to date. We take pride in the fact that as workers, we are well trained and skilled at our trades.
| Coal Commodity Region/Fuel | Avg. BTU | SO2 | Price | Price/mmBTU |
| Central Appalachia | 12,500 | 1.2 | $54.90 | $2.20 |
| Northern Appalachia | 13,000 | 3 | $53.20 | $2.05 |
| Illinois Basin | 11,800 | 5 | $34.35 | $1.46 |
| Powder River Basin | 8,800 | 0.8 | $11.55 | $0.66 |
| Uinta Basin | 11,700 | 0.8 | $39.35 | $1.68 |
| Natural Gas (Henry Hub) | n/a | 0.01 | n/a | $2.75 |
By T.L. HEADLEY, MBA, MAT, MA
Coal production in the U.S. rose sharply for the week ending July 18, compared to the 
previous week – continuing the positive trend of the past few weeks. However production continues to fall short of last year according to the latest report from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) for the week.
Production in the United States increased by 801,000 tons (4%) to finish the week at 16.40 million tons compared to last week’s total of 16.40 million tons. Meanwhile, production for the week is off by 2.24 million tons (11.5%) from the 19.44 million tons for the same week in 2014. Cumulative production for the year-to-date remains down as of July 18, coming in at 492.60 million tons compared to 538.54 million tons last year – a decline of 45.94 million tons or 8.5%. Production for the previous 52 weeks also trended lower – finishing at 951.19 million tons compared to 985.32 million tons for the same period ending in 2014 (-3.5%).
Mirroring the coal production, the number of coal rail car loadings increased, finishing the week up 21% from the previous week – 99,975 carloads from 82,924 carloads last year. However, loadings remain down sharply compared to the 2014 (-11.6%). Coal loadings also continued their decline year-to-date – off 9.4% from the same period in 2014.
Export and import data was not updated this week.
Electric output was up 6.5 percent compared to the same week in 2014, with 88 MWH of electricity produced compared to 82.61 MWH produced for the same period last year.
Domestic steel output was also up over the previous week.
According to numbers from the American Iron and Steel Institute, domestic raw steel production was up by 0.7% from the previous week, coming in at 1.75 million tons compared to 1.74 million tons last week with a capacity utilization factor of 73.3%. However, steel production was down sharply from the same week last year, when 1.91 million tons were produced at a capacity utilization rate of 79.6%. Steel production continues its slide year-to-date – down 7.7% to 48.7 million tons produced compared to 52.79 million tons for the same period last year.
In terms of regional coal production, all three major basins again reported higher production for the past week compared to the previous week, however all continue sharply lower compared to the same week in 2014.
The Appalachian Basin finished at 4.48 million tons, up from 4.28 million tons last week (+4%). Interior Basin production also finished up at 3.32 million tons compared to 3.16 million tons last week (+5%). Western production finished the week at 9.40 million tons from 8.96 million tons last week (+5%). However production remains sharply below the same week in 2014. The Appalachian Basin is off by 12.9% from the same week last year. The Interior Basin is off 11.8% from 2014. And Western production is off 10.9% from the same period in 2014.
All three basins also continue to report significant declines in production year-to-date, with Appalachia down 12.6%, the Interior Basin off 7.2% and the Western Basin down 6.9%.
Looking at the previous 52 weeks, all three basins are trending lower for the period ending July 18, with the Appalachian Basin down 7.0%, the Interior Basin down 1.2% and the Western Region down 2.5%. Production in the Interior Basin fell to 180.95 million tons from 183.16 million tons for the same period in 2014. Appalachian production fell for the period to 248.65 million tons from 267.30 million tons. Meanwhile, Western production is down to 521.59 million tons from 534.87 million tons in 2014.
According to the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training, coal production in the state now stands at 50.40 million tons through July 9. Of that total, 40.68 million tons was mined by underground operations and 9.71 million tons was produced by surface mining. A total of 112 mines are now reporting production through May 2015.
According to WV OMHST, coal mining employment in West Virginia has now dropped to 15,200 total miners, with 12,401 working underground and 2,799 working on surface operations. The office does not report data for contract miners or preparation plant workers on a weekly basis.
According to EIA, West Virginia coal production for the week totaled 1.96 million tons compared to 1.82 million tons for the previous week (+5.4%). However, this is off by 12.8% from the same week in 2014.
Production increased in both the northern and southern coalfields of West Virginia compared to last week, by 4.9% in the northern field and 4.8% in the southern coalfields. Production is off in both areas year-to-date, by 1.1% and 17.7% respectively.
Coal production in Kentucky for the week ending July 18 was also up compared to the previous week but remains down from the same period in 2014. Kentucky production for the week was reported at 1.26 million tons, up from 1.20 million tons last week but down from the 1.51 million tons for the same week in 2014. Both the eastern and western regions of Kentucky reported significant increases in production from the previous week but the state continues to see significant declines in both fields year over year. Year to date, production in Kentucky is off by 16.2%. Meanwhile production in the state is off by 10.2% for the previous 52 weeks, with western Kentucky reporting an 8.6% decline and eastern Kentucky operations reporting a decline of 11.9% year-over-year.
Wyoming coal production was also up for the week, coming in at 6.83 million tons, compared to 6.52 million tons the previous week, but down from the 7.66 million tons produced for the same week in 2014 – a decline of 14.9%. For the previous 52 weeks, Wyoming production is down 2.0%.
Illinois production was up, finishing the week at 1.13 million tons compared to 1.08 million tons last week. Illinois production is also up by 13.1% for the previous 52 weeks. Indiana production is up as well, coming in at 651,000 tons compared to 621.000 tons for the same week in 2014. Indiana production is also down by 6.3% over the previous 52 weeks. Pennsylvania production for the week also finished up, to just 1.07 million tons versus 1.02 million tons for the previous week, but production in the Keystone State is now down slightly (0.9%) for the previous 52 weeks.
Ohio production also finished slightly higher – at 355,000 tons compared to 338,000 tons the previous week. Ohio coal production is off 17.4% year-to-date and down 13.5% for the previous 52 weeks, compared to the same period ending in 2014. Virginia production increased this week – to 235,000 tons compared to 224,000 tons for last week. Virginia production year-to-date is off by 16.6% and down for the previous 52 weeks by 14.5%.
Coal prices on the spot market held steady this week. Central Appalachian coal finished at $54.90 per ton or $2.20 per mmBtu. Northern Appalachian coal held at $53.20 per ton or $2.05 per mmBtu. Illinois Basin coal closed unchanged at $34.35 per ton or $1.46 per mmBtu, while Powder River Basin coal held at $11.55 per ton or $0.66 per mmBtu, and Uinta Basin coal prices were firm at $39.35 per ton or $1.68 per mmBtu.
Meanwhile, on the NYMEX Coal Futures board, Central Appalachian coal is up to $43.13 per ton compared to $41.03 per ton to last week, while Western Rail fell 1 cent to $10.04 per short ton and Eastern Rail coal is up to $42.33 per short ton.
Natural gas prices on the Henry Hub added 14 cents to finish the week at $2.89 per mmBtu. Natural gas producers again reported a significant increase in their stored reserves – up 99 billion cubic feet compared to the previous week, for a total of 2.77 trillion cubic feet in storage. This week’s working natural gas rotary rig count is up by 19 from last week to 876 working rigs. However, the count remains down by 1007 rigs from a year ago – down 53%. This number includes rigs working in both oil and gas plays.
| Coal Commodity Region/Fuel | Avg. BTU | SO2 | Price | Price/mmBTU |
| Central Appalachia | 12,500 | 1.2 | $52.85 | $2.11 |
| Northern Appalachia | 13,000 | 3 | $60.90 | $2.34 |
| Illinois Basin | 11,800 | 5 | $40.45 | $1.71 |
| Powder River Basin | 8,800 | 0.8 | $11.55 | $0.66 |
| Uinta Basin | 11,700 | 0.8 | $39.30 | $1.68 |
| Natural Gas (Henry Hub) | n/a | 0.01 | n/a | $2.72 |
By T.L. HEADLEY, MBA, MAT, MA
CHARLESTON — Coal production in the U.S. again finished lower this past week,according to the latest report from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) and the National Mining Association.
Production in the United States is down by 1.63 million tons (7.6%) for the week ending May 2 compared to the same time last year. Production for the week stood at 17.36 million tons compared to 18.98 million tons for the same week in 2014. Cumulative production for the year-to-date is also down sharply as of May 2 coming in at 315.27 million tons compared to 333.86 million tons last year – a decline of 18.59 million tons or 5.4%. Production for the previous 52 weeks also trended lower – finishing at 979.05 million tons compared to 986.49 million tons for the same period ending in 2014.
The number of rail car loadings was also down sharply, finishing the week down 9.7% from the same period last year. Rail car loadings are also down sharply year-to-date – off 5.3% from the same period in 2014.
Electric output was down slightly – by 1.9% for the week ending May 2 – but also down (-0.4%) year-to-date. Steel output continued its decline, down 7.0% for the week, finished at 1.71 million tons produced, with a capacity utilization factor of 76.6%, and it continues its slide year-to-date — down 6.9% to 29.84 million tons produced compared to 32.06 million tons for the same period last year. A decline in steel production is considered a leading indicator of the broader economy and the continued declines we are seeing in steel production usually translate into declines in durable goods orders and a softening of the national economy.
Looking at regional coal production the results were positive, with all three major basins reporting increases in production.
The Appalachian Basin was up for the week – at 4.76 million tons from 4.60 million tons the previous week. Interior Basin production was also up for the week –finishing at 3.27 million tons from 3.17 million tons last week. Western production was ticked upward this week, to 9.33 million tons from 9.04 million tons last week. All three basins continue to report significant declines in production year-to-date, with Appalachia down 6.7%, the Interior Basin off 5.2% and the Western Basin down 4.9%.
Looking at the previous 52 weeks, Appalachian and Western Basin production results continued to be down for the period ending May 2, declining 2.7% and 0.3% respectively. Meanwhile production in the Interior Basin was up 0.7% for the period — increasing slightly to 185.01 million tons from 183.68 million tons for the same period in 2014. Appalachian production fell for the period to 261.30 million tons from 268.63 million tons. Meanwhile, Western production is down to 532.73 million tons from 534.18 million tons in 2014.
According to the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, coal production in the state for 2015 (reported through May 7, 2015) stands at 30.38 million tons year-to-date, with 24.23 million tons produced underground and 6.15 million tons produced through surface operations. The number of mines reporting production in March increased to125. The number of mines reporting production is subject to change as additional reports are submitted. The number of active miners working ticked down, coming in at 15,624 compared to 15,656 last week. Underground operations had 12,715 direct mining employees while surface operations finished up at 2,909 employees. Again, we expect those numbers to change with additional reports.
Coal production in Kentucky for the week ending May 2 ticked down to 1.34 million tons compared to 1.54 for the same week in 2014, with the state seeing declines in both its eastern and western fields.
Meanwhile, coal production in Kentucky is off by 5% for the previous 52 weeks, with western Kentucky fields reporting production declines of 5.2% and eastern Kentucky operations reporting declines of 4.8%.
Wyoming coal production finished down for the week compared to 2014, coming in at 6.74 million tons, off from 7.30 million tons – or a decline of 8%. For the previous 52 weeks, Wyoming production is down 0.9%. Illinois production is up slightly for the week, coming in at 1.06 million tons compared to 1.05 for the same period in 2014. Indiana production is down as well, coming in at 668,000 tons compared to 745,000 tons for the week in 2014. Pennsylvania production for the week is also down slightly, to 1.18 million tons versus 1.21 million tons for the same week in 2014, but is up 8.6% for the previous 52 weeks. Ohio production is off as well — dropping to 382,000 tons compared to 487,000 tons in 2014. Virginia production was also off this week – to 251,000 tons compared to 305,000 tons for the same week in 2014. Virginia production for the previous 52 weeks is off by 11.8 percent.
Coal prices on the spot market were little changed this week. Central Appalachian coal held steady at $52.85 per ton, down 3 cents per ton, to $2.12 per million Btu. Northern Appalachian coal also declined slightly to $60.90 per ton, down 2 cents per ton, to $2.34 per mmBtu. Illinois Basin coal prices was firm at $40.45 per ton, down 32 cents per ton, to $1.73 per million Btu, while Powder River Basin coal was unchanged at $11.55 per ton or $0.66 per million Btu, and Uinta Basin coal prices fell to $39.30 per ton, off 32 cents per ton, to $1.70 per million Btu.
Natural gas prices on the Henry Hub jumped 22 cents to $2.72 per million Btu. Natural gas producers reported an increase in their stored reserves – up 81 billion cubic feet compared to the previous week. This week’s working natural gas rotary rig count dropped to 894, from 905 last week and 1,855 a year ago. This number includes rigs working in both oil and gas plays.
UNITED CITIZENS FOR COAL 
