Kevyn

Appalachia’s main industry is dying and some workers are looking to a new economic promise after Trump’s proves empty

Set in a wooded valley between the Tug Fork river and the Mate creek, Matewan, West Virginia was the site of the 1920 Matewan Massacre, a shoot-out between pro-union coal miners and coal company agents that left 10 people dead and triggered one of the most brutal fights over the future of the coal industry in US history.

The coal industry in Appalachia is dying – something that people there know better than anyone. Some in this region are pinning their hopes on alternative solutions, including rising Democratic star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal.

“Coal is over. Forget coal,” said Jimmy Simpkins, who worked as a coal miner in the area for 29 years. “It can never be back to what it was in our heyday. It can’t happen. That coal is not there to mine.”

A coal production forecast conducted in 2018 by the University of West Virginia estimates coal production will continue to decline over the next two decades. Over 34,000 coal mining jobs in the US have disappeared over the past decade, leaving around 52,000 jobs remaining in the industry, despite several promises made by Donald Trump throughout his 2016 e******n campaign that he would bring those jobs back.

“A lot of guys thought they were going to bring back coal jobs, and Trump stuck it to them,” said 69-year-old Bennie Massey, who worked for 30 years as a coal miner in Lynch, Kentucky

maxcorn

And all together now, "we're off to see the wizard because of the magical things he does". They're playing your song Kev.

tommsteyer

I have relatives there. When Hillary pushed her noncoal agenda, v**er support went ice cold.

She implemented no plan to replace coal with other businesses.Just hot air. And no follow up.

Trump didn't agree to the green phreak nonsense.

crazylibertarian Loc: Florida by way of New York & Rhode Island

Kevyn doesn't even realize that within this posting is its rebuttal. If the coal industry is over, then you can't blame Trump for its demise. But there again, events have proved that wrong. Coal industry employment has improved. It may be temporary but it has improved and the demise can't be blamed on Trump.

And if there is to be a replacement of coal with other sources, let the free market determine it, not some psychotic bludgeon legislation.

Seth

Lonewolf

The first replacement is oil burns cleaner less maintenance and no coal ash and with the oil glut is far cheaper than coal

Big Kahuna

Maybe coal is over in parts of Appalachia but the Chinese just can't get enough of our coal. Their imports of coal are going over the top. Maybe AOC should remind the Chicom' s of her Green Deal. She is a loser as is her Green Deal.

Lt. Rob Polans ret.

I do too (relatives) and yep no replacement, no green deal.

herbie

no he just told them he would bring the jobs back to get the v**es, typical Trump Bulls**t