CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — Chris Hamilton, President and CEO of the West Virginia Coal Association, issued the following statement on the agreement to advance the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026:
“Senator Shelley Moore Capito has worked tirelessly to bring lawmakers together around a permitting agreement that can strengthen America’s energy future. The West Virginia Coal Association applauds her leadership, as well as the Trump Administration and the bipartisan work of Chairman Lee and Ranking Members Whitehouse and Heinrich, in reaching a deal on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026.
“Modernizing federal environmental reviews and providing greater certainty for permit holders would help coal producers and the broader energy sector plan investments, maintain and build infrastructure, and respond to growing demand for reliable power. An all-of-the-above energy strategy must recognize the role coal plays alongside other resources. We thank Senator Capito for keeping West Virginia’s energy workers and communities at the forefront of this effort, and we look forward to seeing this legislation advance.”
