We’re glad to see Logan County Commission President Art Kirkendoll keeping coal in the spotlight.

Kirkendoll’s county is one of the leading coal producers in the state and many of our coal miners depend on these jobs to take care of their families.

Everyone in West Virginia benefits from coal mining — even if they are not directly involved in the coal industry.

Coal miners spend their money here and coal companies make use of services here in the coalfields and all of that helps keep our economy strong. Plus, our coal severance taxes have been vital to other areas of the state. When the northern counties were struggling, it was our coal severance tax dollars that were sent to help those counties. And it’s our coal that provides energy to a large portion of the country. If those jobs are taken away, it would be very detrimental not only to West Virginia, but also to the nation’s economy.

What happens when we depend on China for a boatload of coal instead of West Virginia?

Kirkendoll sees the problems ahead and is trying to stop them before they start. We applaud Kirkendoll for his efforts to keep coal on everyone’s minds and in the spotlight. We need coal and so does the rest of the country. And, until an alternative fuel can be found to take coal’s place, we need people like Kirkendoll fighting for our state’s ability to keep mining coal.