The Associated Press reported that the president of Alpha Natural Resources said that the so called "War on Coal" is broader than that and it is a war on affordable electricity.

Mr Paul Vining said that the casualties will be American consumers, businesses and manufacturers.

Mr Vining acknowledged in a congressional hearing Monday that energy markets are cyclical and this is the first downturn the coal industry has faced.

But Mr Vining repeated the industry line, too, arguing regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency are significantly and artificially influencing markets.

The State Journal says Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield led the meeting of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power in Abingdon, Va., where Alpha is based.

Source - The Associated Press

(www.coalguru.com)