- Title: Coal town has mixed thoughts on Trump climate policy
- Date: 3rd June 2017
- Summary: MT. STORM, WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MOUNT STORM POWER STATION COAL PILES AND POWER LINES DAVIS, WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADAM TRACEY, COAL INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST, SAYING: "I think there's a lot of misconception about what the agreement was in the first place. But, I think by pulling out of it, you're going to see more, more coal companies have more confidence in the future of their company. They're going to put more money into it, which in turn is going to give them a better return and they're going to be able to figure out some more improvements as far as going forward what they can do in air pollution and cleaning the water." MT. STORM, WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) MOUNT STORM POWER STATION DAVIS, WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADAM TRACEY, COAL INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST, SAYING: "I think Trump's headed in the right direction with what he's doing. And you can tell. You can tell locally. You can tell within our company. You can tell rival companies. Everybody is optimistic right now. Hopefully it lasts." MAN CROSSING STREET TRUCK DRIVING THROUGH TOWN MARC PACHOILLI, SNOW BOARD INSTRUCTOR, WALKING WITH HIS DOG FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARC PACHOILLI, SNOW BOARD INSTRUCTOR, WALKING WITH HIS DOG FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK, SAYING: "I do understand that if we're not putting people back to work, we're taking that away from them, then isn't that going to send us into a depression again? Wouldn't it make life harder for Americans rather than making it better? And so if Donald Trump's going to do anything to help the American people, he should probably make sure that he stays to his word, whatever it may be." VARIOUS OF WIND TURBINES (SOUNDBITE) (English) BARBARA BISH, COOK AT HELLBENDER BURRITOS, SAYING: "I think this area is very progressive and I think that in this area it's definitely, people are more open to moving away from coal and more towards solar or wind power. I've known a handful of people working with the turbines and they make good money doing that. And it's a lot safer, you can be up in the air looking down at everything instead of in this nasty stinking coal mine." VARIOUS OF COAL MINE BAYARD, WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MERLE SHIFFLETT, RETIRED MINER, SAYING: "Actually, there's always chances when you wake up in the morning and then go underground 2,500 feet and not see daylight for a while. It's stressful sometimes." AMBULANCE ENTRANCE SIGN AT INACTIVE MINE SITE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MERLE SHIFFLETT, RETIRED MINER, SAYING: "It's not too late. Actually, I can see a big difference in the area since there is not so much coal going on. But then yet again, you have so many people rely on for the livelihood and I'd like to see it make come back a little bit." BANK SIGN STREET MT. STORM, WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) MOUNT STORM POWER STATION
- Embargoed: 17th June 2017 02:34
- Keywords: climate change Paris agreement West Virginia power plant mine coal Donald Trump
- Location: MT. STORM AND DAVIS AND BAYARD, WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES
- City: MT. STORM AND DAVIS AND BAYARD, WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JQ2EKN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tucked into the northern part of West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains sits the Mt. Storm Power Station, a coal plant that generates power for more than 407,000 homes, according to its operators, Dominion Energy. Opened in the early 1960s, the plant consumes 15,000 tons of coal daily - all that coal provides jobs for a majority of the people living in the small communities around it.
Their livelihoods may have gotten some security this week, when U.S. President Donald Trump decided to take the United States out of the Paris climate change pact. In states like West Virginia, a weaker stance on environmental policies is often seen as a jobs-maker. It's an issue Trump campaigned on here and a reason why he carried the so-called 'rust belt' states in November's election.
"You're going to see more, more coal companies have more confidence in the future of their company," said coal industry environmental specialist Adam Tracey. "They're going to put more money into it, which in turn is going to give them a better return and they're going to be able to figure out some more improvements as far as going forward what they can do in air pollution and cleaning the water."
But even in places like Mt. Storm, where the population is just over 100, coal is not necessarily king anymore, regardless of federal policy. Dominion Energy has already begun to invest in wind power, making use of the area's mountainous terrain. The company's turbines here produce 264 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 66,000 homes.
Local resident Barbara Bish, a cook at Hellbender Burritos, thinks that's a sign of progress.
"I think this area is very progressive and I think that in this area it's definitely, people are more open to moving away from coal and more towards solar or wind power. I've known a handful of people working with the turbines and they make good money doing that. And it's a lot safer, you can be up in the air looking down at everything instead of in this nasty stinking coal mine."
All members of the West Virginia's congressional delegation issued statements supporting Trump's decision to leave the Paris pact, hoping it will eventually have a positive impact on their districts, although that impact is likely years away, as it could take up to four years to completely withdraw from the agreement. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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