While nations compete for oil, West Virginia coalused responsiblycan be critical for assuring the U.S.s energy security and economic health, say the organizers of the next Energy Roadmap Workshop on Coal to be held July 22 at the Clarion Conference Center in Shepherdstown. The event is being co-sponsored by West Virginia Universitys National Research Center for Coal and Energy (NRCCE).
Featured workshop speakers include Connie Holmes of the National Mining Association who will talk about economics, Eugene Trisko of the Center for Energy and Economic Development who will address air quality challenges, and Don Nehlen, spokesman for Friends of Coal. State Senator John Unger of Berkeley County, representing West Virginias 16th District, will also offer comments on homeland security.
The purpose of the workshop will be to examine the economic impact of coal on the state and the role West Virginia can play in helping to secure the nations energy needs,said Jeff Herholdt, manager of the Energy Efficiency Program for the West Virginia Development Office, one of the event organizers.
Energy is an essential ingredient in the economies of developed nations. Coal, oil and natural gas provided more than 85 percent of all forms of energy used in the U.S. during 2002 according to U.S. Department of Energy statistics. The breakdown�€39 percent oil, 23 percent natural gas, and 23 percent coal�€demonstrates oils dominance. But for a number of reasons, the U.S. can no longer rely on oil always being available.
The Middle East, from where the U.S. imported nearly 25 percent of its oil in 2002, continues to be a place of political and economic unrest.
But also, growing demand from China will be an increasing factor in oil markets,said Richard Bajura, director of the NRCCE . China with its nearly 1.3 billion people is now the second largest importer of oil behind the U.S. and its 293 million people. Chinas demand is expected to double by 2020.
Geologists predict that oil production will peak at about the same time, meaning that each barrel of oil will become more expensive to pump.
But coal could ease the nations reliance on foreign oil, enhance our national security, and strengthen the U.S.s and West Virginias economy,Bajura said.Through research, technologies have been developed for both mining and using coal responsibly to meet our energy needs.
A significant portion of this workshop is designed to showcase the impact of the coal industry on state and local economies. Although coal is mined in less than half of the state’s counties, its economic impact is felt by all 55 counties who receive a share of coal severance dollars to sustain important county programs,said Chris Hamilton of the West Virginia Coal Forum and a workshop organizer.
This is the second in the four-part workshop series. The first workshop held last April focused on workforce needs. The third workshop to be held in September will focus on coal utilization technologies, and the final workshop in November will look at national energy issues.
The events are being sponsored by the WVU NRCCE , the West Virginia Development Office and the Coal Forum with partial funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Coal Forums Fred Tucker and Kenneth Dickens, and the NRCCE s Trina Wafle round out the organizing committee.
Online registration for the workshop is available athttp://www.WVEnergyRoadmapWorkshops.org. Cost is $35 in advance and $45 at the door. Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. with the official welcome beginning at 9 a.m.
Panelists include Tom Witt of the Bureau for Business and Economic Research at WVU , Bill Raney of the West Virginia Coal Association, Mark Muchow of the West Virginia Tax and Revenue Division, Max Burnham of E.I. DuPonts Potomac Works, Roger Lilly of Walker Machinery, and Carl Bauer of the National Energy Technology Laboratory.
The workshop will include an open forum during which participants will be able to give their ideas for how West Virginia can be a leader in providing the nation with affordable, reliable energy. The feedback will be incorporated into a report to be published on the web and forwarded to state leaders.