Mollohan Sees Future for Coal
By BEN SIMMON, Staff WriterArticle Photos
U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, D-1st District, visited the World Vision office in Philippi Tuesday to announce the U.S. Department of Justice has earmarked $134,152 for the organization to execute a mentoring program to help at-risk youth in Barbour County. His discussion later turned to focus on the future of energy and ways West Virginia could become a leader in the global market.
"The world is changing," Mollohan told The Inter-Mountain after the session. "In the energy area it is changing because there is so much demand coming into the market from around the world. In China alone, they are building a power plant a week, so that gives you some sense of how much additional coal and oil they are using ... There is going to be a tremendous demand for the conventional energy sources that we have relied upon, both for mobile sources and to light our cities and our towns and our homes and the country. We have to address that reality effectively and successfully, which means comprehensively.
"The solution will be a comprehensive one and it will involve nuclear, and it will involve fossil fuels including coal and oil and gas. It will also involve the renewables," Mollohan said. "It will involve wind, where appropriate, and hydro and perhaps the tides in the ocean. All of those sources can make significant contributions and it's going to take all of them. Oil is becoming an increasingly precious commodity. It would be better to reserve that for the purposes, which no other energy source can serve, which means maybe nuclear lights the lights along with coal.
Describing West Virginia as "the Saudi Arabia of coal," Mollohan said the state is in a good position to provide energy sources.
"We have tremendous reserves for, at present consumption rates, for as much as 200 years, it is estimated," Mollohan said. "Of course, consumption rates will probably go up so that will probably come down, but nevertheless we have significant coal reserves, and oil and gas reserves. As coal generates 51 percent of the electricity that is consumed in this country today, I think 20 years from now, coal will still produce 51 percent of the electricity. It's just that good of a source of fuel to generate electricity."
Members of the Barbour County Democratic Executive Committee sponsored the event and invited Mollohan to tour various other organizations within the county.
"It's important for a member of Congress to support a local initiative that is as effective as World Vision is because it helps World Vision deal with the problems of poverty, of youth in poverty, of at-risk youth and of the drug scourge that is rampant in our communities everywhere," Mollohan said. "When you have an organization like World Vision that is doing a good job, and they demonstratively are doing a good job, and they deserve to be supported."
World Vision Executive Director Ruston Seaman said the funds would be used to provide specialized help for up to 70 young people in Barbour County who face challenges in the community.
"The funds will be used for a mentoring initiative with after-school programming and youth in Barbour County," Seaman said. "Particularly trying to get more young people to be involved in their community in terms of leadership and development and mentoring other people. I think it continually sends out the message that kids' futures matter and it's a way of working harder on the prevention side rather than waiting until kids fail and have to be incarcerated. Our goal as an organization is to work in the area of prevention so that it will make a difference not only in the coming year, but well into the future by helping kids find a positive direction."
Mollohan, who serves on the appropriations committee that funds the justice department, said there are a number of programs available to fund at-risk youth and other community programs. He said it is important to assist organizations such as World Vision because they held build a stronger community.
"In Barbour County, they are bringing together impressive resources to deal with the problems in their community - economic problems and problems with at-risk youth - in impressive ways," Mollohan said. "What's impressive about it is so many of the folks that could contribute to solutions are working together around the table. There is partnership and cooperation ... Barbour County, as much as any community in my district, is doing it right and I'm pleased to be here and supporting them."
Members of the Democratic Executive Committee weren't the only ones who came out to hear Mollohan speak. Republican Executive Committee members Don and Grace Stemple were in the audience along with new Alderson-Broaddus College President Dr. J. Michael Clyburn, Delegate Mary Poling, D-15th District, Barbour County Commissioner Steve Sinsel, and several local Democratic candidates for the General Election including Barbour County Sheriff candidate John Hawkins and Senate hopeful Bob Williams.
"There were Democrats and Republicans and Independents here today and all of them engaged constructively," Mollohan said. "I thought it was very useful and demonstrates how people working together can solve problems."
Democratic Executive Committee chairman Jude McConnell said he thinks Mollohan's visit to Barbour County was important because it gave the congressman a personal look at the community and its needs. Mollohan also made stops at the Barbour County Senior Center and the Storehouse Appalachia.
"He came here and actually saw things first hand," McConnell said. "You can read things on paper, but seeing them first hand and talking to the people here really gives him a sense of what he has to do as a representative. Overwhelmingly, when we did the questions and answers it was all energy related, the costs. It's an issue that is affecting our families."
