Oppose the

climate change bill

Dear Editor:

The West Virginia Cham-ber of Commerce is urging the state’s congressional delegation to speak out against a war on domestic energy that is being waged by the new leadership team in Washing-ton.

Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are ad-vancing climate change legislation that will impose new regulations and lead to substantial hikes in energy prices, particularly for electricity generated from coal-fired power plants. H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES Act), is being considered by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Among the key provisions in the 932-page legislation are ones to reduce emissions of “global warming pollution,” establish a cap-and-trade system, and encourage carbon capture technologies.

In addition, several departments of the Obama Admin-istration have initiated regulatory actions against the state’s coal mining industry, and these actions pose serious implications for the continued viability of much of the mining and mine-related jobs in our state.

West Virginians will be hurt severely by this legislation and by these new regulatory actions. Electricity prices likely could increase two to three times, our energy sector will be devastated, thousands of good-paying jobs will be lost, schools, public safety, community services, and health care will suffer, and millions and millions in tax revenues will be at risk.

While employers appreciate the various points of view surrounding climate change and environmental issues, how we approach this topic as a state and nation will have a bearing on our state’s overall well-being, on our jobs, on our families’ incomes, and on energy costs. 

We must decide, collectively, whether West Virginia is going to be an energy state, or a poor state. Let’s hope our elected leaders decide correctly.

Stephen G. Roberts

President

West Virginia

Chamber of Commerce