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Alpha Natural Resources closing eight mines, cutting hundreds of jobs

Washington Post -- Alpha Natural Resources will cut its coal production by 15 percent and immediately lay off about 160 mineworkers while idling eight mines in Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Alpha Natural Resources becomes the latest in a series of coal mining companies to trim output and jobs this year as domestic coal-fired power plants shut down in the face of cheap new U.S. natural gas supplies, a weak economy, and environmental regulations. The company ranks as America’s second-largest coal producer by revenue and third-largest by production.

The company said that while its cuts would affect 400 mineworkers, most would be given jobs that are currently vacant or done by contractors. However Alpha said an additional 800 jobs would be lost by early next year as it seeks to cut overhead by $150

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Submitted Sep 19, 2012 By: DellDude2

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drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,953 Points:754,120 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 21, 2012 6:12:55 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse LOL, those are not tomeboy's words, they are a cut and paste regurgitation of Jonathan Fahey of the AP. and tomeboy did not even bother to credit Mr. Fahey, can you say plagiarism? That violates Gas Buddy policy. Two questions for letemeatcake. One, what's your position on anthropogenic global warming? Two, what's your position on the export of petroleum distillates? [Edited by: drpepperTX at 9/21/2012 9:16:23 AM EST]
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,612 Points:1,207,390 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 20, 2012 9:08:17 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse There is no doubt that Tomeboy speaks the truth! The solution to the whining of the Coal industry is exports. There is much more profit there than competing with NG in the US. The companies have always had a lousy business model. Too bad the companies bet on their legislators so heavily. Those who have lost their jobs must have the best vocational re-training possible. Anyone with an A or B Commercial license can get a job in the Oil fields at the drop of a hat.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,953 Points:754,120 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 20, 2012 6:24:02 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Sure tomeboy, all is well, all is well....the coal industry has only lost 25-30% of its work force....ALL IS WELL!
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,779 Points:561,615 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:30:43 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse Coal executives are hardly giving up. Consol Energy, a coal and natural gas producer based in Canonsburg, Pa., and other U.S. coal companies hope to be able to keep mines active by exporting more of the country's huge reserves. Last year U.S. coal exports hit a record 107 million short tons. High grade coal that is used to make steel is in particular demand in developing countries such as China, India and Brazil.
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,779 Points:561,615 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:26:46 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse Now coal is being beaten at its own game. Natural gas has become a cheap and abundant domestic resource, too. And it is more environmentally friendly. Power plants that burn coal produce more than 90 times as much sulfur dioxide, five times as much nitrogen oxide and twice as much carbon dioxide as those that run on natural gas, according to the Government Accountability Office, the regulatory arm of Congress. Sulfur dioxide causes acid rain; nitrogen oxides cause smog; and carbon dioxide is a so-called greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere.
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,779 Points:561,615 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:25:20 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse The shift from coal is reverberating across Appalachia, where mining companies are laying off workers and cutting production. Utilities across the country are grappling with how to store growing piles of unused coal. And legal disputes are breaking out as they try to cancel contracts and defer deliveries. Coal has dominated the U.S. power industry for so long because it's a cheap and abundant domestic resource. The U.S. is the world's second-largest coal producer after China, and it has the world's biggest reserves — enough to last more than 200 years. Coal has also enjoyed strong political support because of the jobs it provides in mining and transportation. That helped coal thrive even as environmental concerns over mining practices and air quality grew. Just five years ago, coal was flourishing in the U.S. With electricity demand and the price of natural gas both rising, coal was viewed as essential to keeping power costs under control. Utilities drew up plans to build dozens of coal-fired plants. But around the same time, a revolution was under way in the natural gas industry. Drillers figured how to tap enormous deposits of previously inaccessible reserves. As supplies grew and the price of natural gas plummeted, the ground shifted under the electric-power industry.
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,779 Points:561,615 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:22:17 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse The fuel that powered the U.S. from the industrial revolution into the iPhone era is being pushed aside as utilities switch to cleaner and cheaper alternatives. The share of U.S. electricity that comes from coal is forecast to fall below 40% for the year, its lowest level since World War II. Four years ago, it was 50%. By the end of this decade, it is likely to be near 30%. "The peak has passed," says Jone-Lin Wang, head of Global Power for the energy research firm IHS CERA. Utilities are aggressively ditching coal in favor of natural gas, which has become cheaper as supplies grow. Natural gas has other advantages over coal: It produces far fewer emissions of toxic chemicals and gases that contribute to climate change, key attributes as tougher environmental rules go into effect. Natural gas will be used to produce 30% of the country's electricity this year, up from 20% in 2008. Nuclear accounts for 20%. Hydroelectric, wind, solar and other renewables make up the rest. [Edited by: Tomeboy at 9/20/2012 1:23:22 AM EST]
TustinDad Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,307 Points:908,765 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:15:23 PM Ignore TustinDad Report Abuse Tomeboy wrote: "With natural gas priced below $3 per million British thermal units, down from about $8 in 2008, many gas-fueled plants can make electricity for about two cents a kilowatt hour, less than half what it costs to run many coal units." Tea Party fanatics: Ya'll hear that? It is the market forces (supply/demand of LNG) that does this. Who would have thought that would happen when we drilled? [Edited by: TustinDad at 9/20/2012 1:16:11 AM EST]
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,779 Points:561,615 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:14:12 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse Natural-gas plants set market prices in Texas, and their costs are so low that they can often sell power for less than what it costs to run a coal plant. One reason costs are higher is because of coal-handling expenses and the higher number of employees it takes to run a coal plant compared with a gas-fired plant.
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,779 Points:561,615 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:10:49 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse Coal has been losing ground to natural gas ever since a boost in shale-gas production sent the price of natural gas tumbling four years ago. But now the natural-gas price advantage is beginning to affect the coal units that seemed most protected from the shift. Many of these plants have the latest environmental upgrades and are often close to coal deposits. The reason: With natural gas priced below $3 per million British thermal units, down from about $8 in 2008, many gas-fueled plants can make electricity for about two cents a kilowatt hour, less than half what it costs to run many coal units.
Tomeboy Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,779 Points:561,615 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:07:29 PM Ignore Tomeboy Report Abuse Actual Energy Costs Are Driving Us Towards a Natural Gas Nation
TustinDad Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,307 Points:908,765 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:57:09 PM Ignore TustinDad Report Abuse granitestater wrote: "This is Obama's idea of a success story. Cutting 'dirty' coal production. Now those mineworkers can take up basket weaving." But he stopped 100,000 autoworkers from having to take up basket weaving. Doesn't that count for something?
TustinDad Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,307 Points:908,765 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:34:47 PM Ignore TustinDad Report Abuse RENEGADEGAS wrote: "The greenie weenies have caused yet another catastrophe in America. I dont want to hear another peep out of them about BP, or any other oil accidents. They have caused more harm, higher utilities and loss of jobs to America than all of that combined." It would be very interesting to see the numbers that you have to back that up. But, my promise to you is that I will not hold my breath waiting for them.
Cellsite Champion Author Appleton Posts:1,241 Points:289,085 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:33:55 PM Ignore Cellsite Report Abuse To TustinDad. Too funny.
boatmen Champion Author New York Posts:3,085 Points:624,305 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:28:49 PM Ignore boatmen Report Abuse slow with multiply articles
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,995 Points:2,528,285 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:25:57 PM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse ok
boatmen Champion Author New York Posts:3,085 Points:624,305 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:25:17 PM Ignore boatmen Report Abuse It has to be figured on moving away from coal would decrease demand there by reducing work force. Down sizing, outsourcing, or as Romney would say we are having an outstanding year closed down 2 more company's and moved production to china increasing our corporate profits
12766 Champion Author New York Posts:2,453 Points:1,485,365 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:21:17 PM Ignore 12766 Report Abuse OK
RENEGADEGAS Champion Author Missouri Posts:14,924 Points:1,593,175 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:20:31 PM Ignore RENEGADEGAS Report Abuse The greenie weenies have caused yet another catastrophe in America. I dont want to hear another peep out of them about BP, or any other oil accidents. They have caused more harm, higher utilities and loss of jobs to America than all of that combined.
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,329 Points:1,532,975 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:20:26 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Coal mining has killed too many workers. Close them all.
Gassed01 Champion Author Toronto Posts:6,364 Points:1,804,740 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:19:39 PM Ignore Gassed01 Report Abuse Sell the coal to the Chinese. Or trade it for crap that comes back in container ships to Walmart stores.
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,836 Points:1,432,700 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:19:15 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse This is Obama's idea of a success story. Cutting 'dirty' coal production. Now those mineworkers can take up basket weaving.
cheapertvs Champion Author Richmond Posts:10,295 Points:2,743,670 Joined:Jan 2004	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:19:06 PM Ignore cheapertvs Report Abuse We could use those jobs in Virginia.
Hi1 Champion Author Ontario Posts:4,865 Points:1,726,560 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:18:56 PM Ignore Hi1 Report Abuse That is to bad for the workers.
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:21,269 Points:2,255,970 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:18:35 PM Ignore 10k Report Abuse y'all sheeple just keep voting for your saviour, nobama the magnificent, and you will be in nobama's bread line, begging for food and heat..
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,181 Points:1,932,430 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:18:19 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Good for the environment. Bad for jobs where they're very much needed.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,231 Points:520,740 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:17:22 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Use Nat Gas here. Export coal.
arb0526 Champion Author Greensboro Posts:1,986 Points:412,570 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:15:43 PM Ignore arb0526 Report Abuse the UK developed a method to use coal cleanly to power its plants that produce electricity from underground coal mines without removal.
TustinDad Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,307 Points:908,765 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:14:12 PM Ignore TustinDad Report Abuse Cellsite wrote: "TustinDad, you'll think different when it costs $500 a month to heat your house with natural gas. Gasoline used to be abundant and cheap too." That will never happen. It's warm around here and the gas bill is around $12. If you think your bill is getting too high, just move. Stay out of California, we don't want you, but Arizona will welcome you!
CDMAuto Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,798 Points:755,640 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:13:57 PM Ignore CDMAuto Report Abuse Bad News
bridgerunner Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,797 Points:1,008,785 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:13:02 PM Ignore bridgerunner Report Abuse It WILL not get any better!
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,478 Points:664,900 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:10:49 PM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Thank you Presidink Obama and the EPA.
starfighter08 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,327 Points:350,755 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:10:46 PM Ignore starfighter08 Report Abuse BHO declared war on the coal industry and pledged to shutdown every coal fired plant in the country. They don't care how it effects the average US family. If rising energy costs bankrupt people, it's just too bad. Tough sh*t for them.
yakstar Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,430 Points:481,595 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:10:20 PM Ignore yakstar Report Abuse coal is a very inexpensive, clean fuel! Not!
Redcarn Rookie Author Indianapolis Posts:25 Points:232,245 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:09:53 PM Ignore Redcarn Report Abuse The Global Warming drummers did this. [Edited by: Redcarn at 9/20/2012 12:11:25 AM EST]
RoadKing95 Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,569 Points:3,605,190 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:09:50 PM Ignore RoadKing95 Report Abuse Cellsite ... Lay off the tea. Tustindad speaks truth
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,329 Points:1,532,975 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:09:29 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse It is rough on those people working in the coal mines but coal mines should have been closed years ago and thousands of lives would have been saved.
NoGas714 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:740 Points:752,750 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:09:17 PM Ignore NoGas714 Report Abuse A campaign promise that he followed through on. Awesome!
gocatgo Champion Author South Carolina Posts:15,669 Points:2,531,530 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:08:01 PM Ignore gocatgo Report Abuse Like America will never sell another ship load of coal overseas, right.
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,502 Points:1,512,030 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:07:42 PM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse What's a phone booth, radiorumor? Anything like a BFO?
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:7,913 Points:1,546,260 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:07:23 PM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse The mines and the coal will still be there if ever the need arises.
Cellsite Champion Author Appleton Posts:1,241 Points:289,085 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:06:35 PM Ignore Cellsite Report Abuse TustinDad, you'll think different when it costs $500 a month to heat your house with natural gas. Gasoline used to be abundant and cheap too.
pepinoNC Champion Author Raleigh Posts:2,164 Points:660,740 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:04:57 PM Ignore pepinoNC Report Abuse The end of dirty coal,time to move on to natural gas.
TustinDad Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,307 Points:908,765 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:03:35 PM Ignore TustinDad Report Abuse ExplorerWA wrote: "An more to come as approximately 200 coal fired electric generating plants are shut down. Can someone supply me a list of replacement plants? Looks like brownouts and blackouts for days and months are coming but at least we will have a cleaner environment. " Find the list yourself! But think of this for a moment, please. The utility companies are in business to make money. Do you really think they will shut down plants without securing needed energy production? LNG plants are cheaper to operate than old coal plants. We are not going to have electricity shortage because of closed coal plants.
radiorumor Champion Author Texas Posts:2,822 Points:755,810 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:02:21 PM Ignore radiorumor Report Abuse Times change, it’s even hard to find a phone booth now
BAMBAM197105 All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:592 Points:104,835 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:02:05 PM Ignore BAMBAM197105 Report Abuse OK
shores4now Champion Author Kentucky Posts:2,416 Points:525,750 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:01:02 PM Ignore shores4now Report Abuse Ok
TustinDad Champion Author Orange County Posts:4,307 Points:908,765 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 9:00:47 PM Ignore TustinDad Report Abuse Cellsite wrote: "Coal. Abundant. Cheap. American. American jobs. Provides cheap electricity. O'Bummer. Tree-hugging greenies. Unemployment. Black-outs." Natural Gas. Abundant. Cheap. American. American jobs. Provides cheap electricity. Tea Party fanatics. Can't read. Can't comprehend. Create mess.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,863 Points:1,614,950 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 8:59:46 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse It is tough for the miners but strip mining is destroying southern West Virginia. Go to Google Earth and look at it. Mountaintop removal / valley fill mining is a disaster. We have got to reduce our use of coal and mine what we do use in a responsible manner.
joeschmo12 Champion Author New York Posts:1,027 Points:308,165 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 8:59:30 PM Ignore joeschmo12 Report Abuse Terrible