"COEBURN, Va. — Wearing helmets, headlamps and uniforms streaked with grime, the workers at Paramont Coal sound weary of fighting. They are in the middle of what they call a long-running 'war on coal' that is threatening their livelihood and stoking fury directed at the federal government."

"'When the president said that you can build a coal plant, but it’ll bankrupt you — he did a good job,' said Jack Blanton, 59, a supervisor at the Toms Creek plant, referring to remarks Barack Obama made as a candidate.

There is more than coal burning in America’s coal fields these days, and that anger could have an effect on November’s elections in coal-producing swing states such as Virginia. As coal companies idle mines and lay off workers, energy policy has become a hot topic in the U.S. Senate race between former governors Timothy M. Kaine (D) and George Allen (R)."

Fredrick Kunkle reports for the Washington Post September 23, 2012. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Campaigns Spar Over Coal's Future" (Wall St. Journal) [3]
(You can get an "article free pass" for this subscription content by pasting the title into the Google search field and clicking on the result)

"Analysis: Coal Fight Looms, Keystone-Like, Over U.S. Northwest" (Reuters) [4]

"AEP Argues EPA Carbon Rules Relies on Technology Not Yet Viable" (Bloomberg Businessweek) [5]