Energy and Environment

Under attack, coal maintains its political muscle

By Adam Beam
Published June 9, 2014 2:41pm ET
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Under attack, coal maintains its political muscle
Miners shovel coal at a mine in Xiahuayuan county, north China's Hebei province. President Barack Obama's proposal to curb U.S. greenhouse gas emissions might improve the chances of completing a global climate treaty but is unlikely to defuse demands by China, India and others for Americans to do more. China, the biggest emitter, has promised to curb its output but with its economy slowing, and communist leaders under pressure to generate jobs, has resisted binding limits. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File) | Oded Balilty

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The coal industry is shedding thousands of jobs and facing the government’s most severe crackdown on carbon emissions yet. But king coal still flexes its political muscle in Kentucky and West Virginia, where Republicans and even Democrats try to out-coal one another by cozying up to the industry and slamming President Barack Obama.

In other coal-producing areas such as Ohio and Virginia, Democrats have been able to win even with the industry against them. That’s not an option for politicians in the heart of Appalachia.

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