Imagine West Virginia Promotes Coal Technologies
By Kasey, Pam
MORGANTOWN – Imagine West Virginia has added its voice to the call for West Virginia to become a leader in advanced coal technologies.
In a report released April 22, “Coal, Energy, the Environment and West Virginia: Leadership for West Virginia and Beyond,” the policy research arm of Vision Shared re-affirmed the importance of responsible use of coal as renewable energy technologies are developed and adopted more widely.
“For the sake of the environment and the health and safety of people, the adverse impacts of coal extraction and utilization must be mitigated,” wrote the authors of the 16-page report in an executive summary.
“Advanced research and development aimed at producing environmentally acceptable, safer and more efficient mining and uses of coal must be accelerated.”
Cleaner and safer coal would be a great benefit to West Virginia and the nation, the summary reads, but the use of coal in coming years likely depends on the extent to which its environmental impacts are controlled.
The report calls on government, the private sector and academia to take initiative in 10 areas.
Those 10 areas include strengthening coal-related research, promoting expertise in mining safety and remediation, developing the next generation of coal leadership, fostering coal-related business enterprises and establishing a coalition for global efforts in coal.
“West Virginia is going to be the leader to formulate policy and thus establish the need for safe, clean and technologically advanced mining and use of coal,” said Imagine West Virginia Board of Governors Chairman Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, USN (retired), “which will ultimately create opportunities for West Virginia and the nation.”
The report has received endorsements from Sens. Robert C. Byrd and John D. Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Congressman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., Gov. Joe Manchin and others.
“Coal must be able to compete in any new carbon-regulated future, and we must begin preparing for that future now,” wrote Rockefeller. “As I continue my work in the Senate to create incentives for the development of carbon capture and sequestration technologies and to increase resources for energy research and development, I welcome the continued input of Imagine West Virginia to ensure that coal remains central to our nation’s energy portfolio.”
The group plans to develop a set of performance benchmarks and to issue progress report cards at least once a year.
Imagine West Virginia prepared the report with the input and guidance of representatives from higher education, industry, the environmental sector, science, law, and local, state, and federal government. Dr. Richard Lester of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was the principal advisor to the project.
The report may be downloaded from www.imaginewestvirginia.com.
Copyright State Journal Corporation May 2, 2008
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