Its great to stand up for what you believe in, but it seems noone considers the working folks. I hear and read about organizations and people that advocate the end of MTR, but what happens to the workers? What happens to the small businesses that are fed by the coal industry?

Could someone please layout an exit strategy? If the anti coal movement really wants to hit the main stream, come up with a good solution to replace the coal mines. Be specific.

Thanks,
Todd

Todd
I am a coalminer. they dont care about the workers.i have figured that out a long time ago.i agree something needs to be done about responsable mining and renewable engery but no one has a plan that can be put in place quick enough to put a lot of people that will lose their jobs back to work when it does happen.i hope everyone that lived in the area that lost their power in the ice storm remember what it was like for that is what is going to happen or they wont be able to afford to pay.i hope some one can come up with a good plan if they dont we are all into trouble.they say underground mining dont hurt the land but if you have seen where a house or road has set down due to a mine being under it or a mine blew out from build up of water like i have you would say so.

Tood,
We do care and we have been working to bring jobs back to those that have been producing electricity for this Nation for over 100 years.
We have been sending messages to the Obama team ever since he was elected demanding that the new green jobs go to the displaced miners, in Appalachia and other parts of the Country.
We have also tried to work with the state of Kentucky, to bring the stimulus money back to this region. We have been in contact with National organizations that are working on green job creations to work with our state to bring the jobs to the coal fields. The stimulus money is out there to create jobs, and over and over we have requested that money be used to diversify the economy in Eastern Kentucky.
Also we have worked very hard on mine safety legislation, this session the legislators have tried to roll back several of the safety measures of the 07 miners act, that we worked hard to help get passed.
The same people that are blasting KFTC are the same people who work in Frankfort and Washington to gut mine safety laws.I lost a brother to a mining accident. Mine safety is important to me.
We care about the people of the region we live in and we know that coal is not going to be here forever and we just work to make sure what is left of our region is fit for us to live in.
One of the measures we have worked so hard on is the Stream Saver bill, it would not by any means shut down coal mining it would in fact just create more jobs, but the industry just don't want to employ more people and do the mining responsibly.
It is sad when you live in a place that has 40 to 50 inches of rainfall annually and you can't get a clean drink of water, clean water is all we are asking and we are made out to be the bad guys.
Something is wrong here.

Teri
I have been around with some sort of mining since i can remember.right now the biggest problem is mines getting permits.when the present permits run out you all will get what you wanted and not get a stream saver bill passed for you cant mine without permits. one company already has layed off 200 plus workers because of not getting permits and internal problems so someone needs to come up with a plan and quick.