CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – America’s Coal Associations have joined together to condemn comments made by Biden Administration Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry at an international United Nations climate change summit where Kerry announced the United States would begin a phase-out of all existing coal-based power plants and called on coal use to be eliminated across the world.
Americas Coal Associations also urged Congress to exert its authority to block the international agreements made at the summit.
“As bombs are falling onto the streets of Ukraine and elsewhere around the globe and with national security concerns growing all across America with our open borders, out-of-touch climate activist John Kerry maintains that climate change remains our nations and world’s greatest challenge”, said Chris Hamilton, President, West Virginia Coal Association.
In concert with President Biden’s regulatory assault on fossil energy, Kerry pledges to eliminate the coal industry regardless of the economic hardship or destruction it causes for the hundreds of thousands of American families that work in it. Over the weekend, Kerry announced at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) that the United States would join the international Powering Past Coal Alliance, which would commit the U.S. to building no new coal-fired power plants and to phase out existing plants.
Since taking office three years ago, President Biden and his Administration have been overtly pressuring private companies and global elites to eliminate fossil fuels and now want to commit the United States to this ill-conceived, international agreement to put Americans out of work across America’s heartland. The COP28 agreement embraced by Kerry, will accelerate the negative consequences and disruptions to American families.
Moreover, the Biden Administration is clearly attempting to use their (EPA’s) regulatory powers to destroy this critical foundational industry which underpins our great economy.
“Not only will this weaken the United States, but it will also embolden China – which is continuing to build up its coal-fired infrastructure,” said Travis Deti, Executive Director, Wyoming Mining Association. “China will not abide by any of these international agreements because they know coal is an affordable, reliable source of energy that bolsters energy independence and national security”.
Rachel Gleason, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, said, “With the economy already reeling from the rampant inflation suffered under the Biden Administration, the consequences of removing coal and the baseload electric generation it provides from our nation’s energy ecosystem will subject more American families to unnecessary hardships this winter”.
“It is unfortunate that it is popular to support boutique energy policies which favor renewables and villainize energy sources that are reliable and affordable and have provided low-cost energy to the United States for many years,” said Emily Arthun, Chief Executive Officer of the American Coal Council. “American families should never experience unnecessary financial hardships when it comes to energy and should never have to worry about blackouts during weather events”.
Americas Coal Associations calls on Congress to take necessary steps to block any international anti-coal commitments made by Kerry at the U.N. summit.