Governor Weighs In on Coal Plan

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is taking steps to submit a plan to comply with federal carbon emission standards on coal-fired power plants. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts agreed, adding that the state should request a two-year extension until September 2018. Tomblin and Roberts stressed that without a state plan, a federal plan will be automatically imposed. Both worried the federal plan could be worse for West Virginia’s struggling coal industry. Roberts said West Virginia should plan to build new power plants co-fired by coal and natural gas. Roberts said the extension will give time for lawsuits against the carbon standards to wind through courts. The state and union are among the court challengers.