The Positive Impact of Coal
July 24th, Greene County
Hosted by Rep. Bud Cook

1,100 feet beneath the surface of Greene County the Policy Committee convened in the Harvey Mine to learn about the impact of Pennsylvania energy - directly from the source. Coal is the fuel that has powered Pennsylvania for generations, mining in the Commonwealth has supported countless families, and we should all be grateful for Pennsylvania’s bountiful energy beneath our feet. Without access to coal, and the men and women who mine it, Pennsylvania would not be the energy and economic powerhouse that we are today.

~ Agenda, Bios, & Testimony ~


Key Takeaways:

Rachel Gleason
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance

  •   Pennsylvania coal powered America’s industrial revolution.
  •   PA is the 3rd largest coal-producing state – behind Wyoming and West Virginia.
  •   Coal meets PA’s baseload power demands – it is reliable, affordable, readily available on-site, and can be adjusted to meet everchanging needs.
  •   The ONLY economical way to make steel is with metallurgical coal/coke. There would be no PA steel without PA coal.
  •   PA’s coal industry supports 11,547 full-time jobs, with 5,164 directly related to coal mining.
  •   The average salary of an underground coal miner, in 2023, is $111,406.
  •   Both state and federal inspectors assess PA mines every day.
  •   RGGI, PACER, etc. are not about helping the environment. The real goal is to raise revenue, off the backs of baseload energy generators, to subsidize inefficient alternatives.


Matt Mackowiak
Manager of Government Affairs, Consol Energy, Inc.

  •   PA coal powers the world. It is transported throughout America by rail, and also by boat to export markets across 5 continents.
  •   Global demand for coal hit a record high in 2023 – over 8 billion metric tons! Demand continues to rise.
  •   Consol is the largest private employer in Greene County, and the 13th largest in Washington County.
  •   Public awareness campaigns to tell the truth about coal, such as thecoalhardtruth.com, are needed to combat misunderstandings of coal’s past, present, and future.


Jim Barker
President, Rosebud Mining Company

  •   Rosebud Mining Company extracts metallurgical coal from Pennsylvania. This particular coal is necessary for steel production.
  •   Coal is a national security concern. It generates our energy and is necessary to build our cities and military hardware.
  •   China makes a majority of all steel and pig iron in the world. America’s industrial might is faltering.
  •   America’s coal mining and steel production is the cleanest in the world!


Tom Crooks
Vice President, R.G. Johnson Company, Inc.

  •   Coal miners and others within the industry receive lucrative pay and benefits.
  •   Over 90% of R.G. Johnson Company’s team has no higher than a High School diploma.
  •   Coal companies give back to their communities. They support local schools, provide scholarships, build community projects, and donate to local fire departments among other efforts.
  •   The average age to start in the industry is 18.
  •   The youth of today are not as prepared to work in the coal industry as past generations.


In Case You Missed It:
 
“If we want reliable electricity, national security, family-sustaining jobs and vibrant communities, we must support — and protect — Pennsylvania’s coal mining industry”

— Rep. Bud Cook —


 
“Overzealous regulations against coal are death by 1,000 cuts.”

— Rachel Gleason —
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance


 
“Safety is not a value, it’s a way of life.”

— Matt Mackowiak —
Manager of Government Affairs, Consol Energy, Inc.


 
 
“We are blessed to have a lot of metallurgical coal here.”

— Jim Barker —
President, Rosebud Mining Company


 
“I love the coal industry and what it does to make our communities and people better.”

— Tom Crooks —
Vice President, R.G. Johnson Company, Inc.


 
 
 
 



Watch the Testimony:

Full Hearing: The Positive Impact of Coal

Rachel Gleason, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance

Matt Mackowiak, Manager of Government Affairs, Consol Energy, Inc.

Jim Barker, President, Rosebud Mining Company

Tom Crooks, Vice President, R.G. Johnson Company, Inc.

Questions for the Testifiers