Jim Justice on Energy & Oil

We should help our coal, gas, and oil companies

I truly believe that coal has a future, a real future

Asked if they would devote more government resources to sustain the coal industry or invest in alternative, renewable fuels for the state's future, Salango said he would "never turn his back on coal miners" while focusing on training in new, other forms of energy. "We have to make sure we're providing other opportunities, providing vocational and technical training to kids in middle school and high school."

State's coal can be used for construction instead of fuel

Coal miners back work is good; let's have more

Lower the severance tax on coal and gas

Lower, and then tier, the severance tax on coal and gas

But I am telling you, I am not a hog. If we have the bonanza that I think is in front of us with coal--especially metallurgical coals--what if? What if I were to tell you, just this: Think about this for a second. If coal is $35, whoever is mining that is losing money. Lowering the severance tax on that to 2%, or whatever you want to do, okay, I'm good. There's got to be a sweet spot to where we're back to five.

What if it goes to $200 a ton? What happens? There's no way that anybody's cost is going to be greater than $80. At this level right here, anybody's profit is $120 a ton. At this point in time right here, this severance tax needs to be 10%. All it would do is lower the profitability to $110 a ton.

Promote new uses for central Appalachian coal

• Promote new uses for coal. Find chemical and mineral advantages for central Appalachian coal. Then market that strength.
• Cultivate new markets for our natural gas.
• Rekindle a better marketing strategy for our quality metallurgical coal to the world.
• Incentivize our power plants to use only West Virginia coal.