Comedian (and climate change advocate) Jon Stewart seems to think vanishing coal jobs that force miners to find new jobs “is funny”. So funny in fact, he thinks they should go and work for the NFL….because, you know, being a coal miner and a football player in the NFL are so similar.
#TDSBreakingNews Coal jobs vanish, miners seek new careers. Maybe the NFL? They're looking for people willing to seriously harm themselves.
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) November 11, 2014
From Michelle Malkin’s Twitchy site:
“Whoever runs the Twitter feed for “The Daily Show” stepped in it big-time last night with this tweet on what coal miners who’ve lost their jobs thanks in part to Obama administration rules governing the industry should do next with their lives".
Maybe all 35 of Jon’s “comedy” writers were busy when this tweet was sent – because I’m sure the nearly 1,500 miners in West Virginia coal country (who have been and will be laid off) – do not find this funny at all. (I’m proud to say that West Virginia is my home state, and once I was a coal miner’s daughter…and granddaughter, and great granddaughter –it’s safe to say I don’t find this funny – at all.)
But, Jon’s a “comedian” (yet often misconstrued as a reputable news source), so let’s see how funny it is for those miners losing their jobs in the weeks ahead. We can use my home state as example.
This past Monday, Alpha Natural Resources notified 36 miners of layoffs at an affiliate mine this is in addition to the 1,100 layoffs they gave warning to last month.) In Mingo County, Hendrick’s Coal just announced they will lay off 90 miners. Coal River announced 130 layoffs last month. That’s nearly 1,500 coal miners looking for jobs in a certain area of the state, with a unique skillset that doesn’t transcend as easily into other jobs (such as Stewart’s suggestion of working in the NFL). Let’s take it a step further. In Boone County, there are about 2,400 miners. Of the 1,100 layoffs from Alpha Natural Resources, 462 of them come from two mines in Boone County. Essentially, that’s 462 less people working (making a yearly salary of about $85,000), spending their hard earned money in town. In an already fragile economy, these layoffs only make times that much tougher:
“If you own a restaurant, you’re a coal miner and you just don’t know it,” said Lee Milam, president of Whitesville State Bank. “If you’re a banker, you’re a coal miner. They’re your neighbors and your friends.”
Why so many layoffs? Well, stricter EPA regulations makes it harder to produce and make a profit.
National Mining Association spokesman Luke Popovich said layoffs are only the “opening shot” of the EPA’s impact on coal. “States have until June 2016 to submit carbon-reducing plans and could have to comply in 2017, or 2018 if they partner with other states.”
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The West Virginia Record reported that under the EPA’s proposal:
“… new large natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour, while new small natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour.
New coal-fired units would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour, and would have the option to meet a somewhat tighter limit if they choose to average emissions over multiple years, giving those units additional operational flexibility. In its proposal, the EPA has tasked West Virginia with a carbon emissions reduction target of 20 percent by 2030.”
The Record noted a recent study from the National Economic Research Associates Inc., (NERA) found that these EPA regulations would have a severely negative impact on West Virginia…and in some cases, beyond. The study found:
“…43 states will face double-digit electricity price increases, with 14 states potentially facing electricity price increases that exceed 20 percent.
What’s worse, according to the consulting firm’s study, is that the EPA’s proposal will have an essentially meaningless effect on global climate change.
According to NERA, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations would be reduced by less than one-half of a percent, equating to reductions in global average temperature of less than 2/100th of a degree, and sea-level rise would be reduced by 1/100th of an inch – equal to the thickness of three sheets of paper.
In addition, NERA projects that consumers and businesses could face costs as high as $41 billion or more per year… The analysis also found that the EPA’s proposal could shutter 45,000 megawatts or more of coal-based electricity, which is more than the entire electricity supply of New England.”
Oh, and West Virginia receives 95 percent of its electricity from coal.
