Trump Celebrates Opening of New Pennsylvania Coal Mine

[Shooby]

More of Trump keeping his promises!


President Donald Trump celebrated the opening of a new coal mine in Pennsylvania, sending a recorded video to miners for the ceremony.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be speaking with you on this great, great day,” Trump said in the video. “The miners of Pennsylvania — we’re digging coal again.”



The Corsa Coal Company is opening the Acosta coal mine and is expected to employ 70-100 miners.
Trump reminded the miners of his promises during the campaign, and his ongoing efforts to reduce regulations to bring back jobs.



“Clean coal will power America into the future,” Trump said.



He also celebrated his decision to remove the United States from the “horrendous” Paris Climate Agreement, asserting that it would have sent the United States back “decades and decades.”



“We are doing something special and we are helping American coal,” Trump said.

www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/06/09/were-digging-coal-again-donald-trump-celebrates-opening-of-new-pennsylvania-coal-mine/

[Shooby]

Wow.  I have great respect for our coal miners and the job they do and the product of what they do.

[kittensaver]

There are no jobs on a dead planet

[Shooby]

Yes, well they can do the dirty work to provide the power and fuel and products for your cushy lifestyle.

[hoops902]

Jun 9, 2017 12:54:13 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Wow.  I have great respect for our coal miners and the job they do and the product of what they do.

I have great respect for officers who work in federal prisons...that doesn't mean I'm happy when we have to open up another prison. You can respect a person and their job without thinking it's a good thing that we have to expand their industry.

[swamp]

So Trump was instrumental in getting a mine to open up in 150 days?

Great job!!!

[Shooby]

We just pretend that we can generate our energy needs with sunshine and wind and maybe the Good Weather Fairy.  

[apple 2]

Congratulations on getting dirty and going backwards in time.  Coal, such dirty energy.

Too bad there are no jobs in clean energy...oh wait....

[apple 2]

Jun 9, 2017 13:02:23 GMT -5 Shooby said:

We just pretend that we can generate our energy needs with sunshine and wind and maybe the Good Weather Fairy.  

Goodness the depth of your lack of knowledge on clean energy is quite remarkable.  

[apple 2]

The popularity of renewable energy is already exploding as millions of people around the world use it to generate electricity, to heat and cool buildings and to produce a variety of cleaner vehicle fuels.

Wind and solar are the fastest growing sources of energy in the world. These low-polluting energy industries are creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs in countries as diverse as Germany and China. In fact, the renewable-energy sector generates more jobs per megawatt of power installed, per unit of energy produced, and per dollar of investment than the fossil fuel-based sector.


Canada, the second largest country in the world by area, is richly endowed with renewable energy, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal and marine (e.g. tidal, wave energy) sources. With the right policies, Canada can use renewable energy to satisfy its energy needs and become a world leader in sustainable technologies.


Past energy revolutions—from wood to coal, and from coal to oil and gas—have brought an explosion of new profits, productivity and improvements in human health. Investing in new clean-energy sources can make us wealthier and healthier, too.


• In 2012, $244 billion was invested in renewable energy (excluding large hydro) around the world. This includes investments in new capacity, research and development, and manufacturing.


• Wind power is the largest component of renewable generation capacity. Global installed capacity has grown ninefold over the past ten years. An estimated $80.3 billion was invested in wind power worldwide in 2012.


• Energy efficiency has great economic growth potential; investments in efficiency create four times as many jobs as equivalent investments in conventional energy production.

Clean, sustainable energy does more than just reduce the risk of climate change. It brings jobs, investment income and a competitive edge.

link

[mmhmm]

Out of curiosity, Shooby, have you ever seen a coal mine up close and personal? Have you ever met a real, live coal miner?

[swasat]

Jun 9, 2017 13:02:23 GMT -5 Shooby said:

We just pretend that we can generate our energy needs with sunshine and wind and maybe the Good Weather Fairy.  

Unlike some, many of us don't believe in "pretenses". Clean energy is backed by sufficient research and technological advances. 

Just because you or Trump refuse to believe it in it, does not make it less important or less of a solution.

[grumpyhermit]

Except, this mine doesn't have anything to do with power production. They are mining metallurgical coal, and it has been in the works since last summer.

www.washingtonpost.com/business/new-coal-mine-touted-by-trump-opens-in-pennsylvania/2017/06/08/88476640-4c72-11e7-987c-42ab5745db2e_story.html?utm_term=.584c9e555e68

[Shooby]

Yes, coal has a lot of uses in addition to energy.  Duh.

[swasat]

It can be used for any number of things. It still makes the environment dirty and coal miners sick. 

Duh. I thought everyone knew that.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Serious question I have yet to see anyone answer.  As technology evolves to replace people (who need pesky things like health insurance and workmen's comp) and less expensive alternatives to coal continue to progress what are all these coal miners going to do then?  Trump cannot force businesses who have moved to say, natural gas, to move back to coal in order to keep coal miners employed.

Are we really helping these people or are we continuing to delay the inevitable by supporting their dependency on a single industry?

I see it with farming communities in Iowa and Nebraska.  I have tremendous respect for farmers and understand wanting to preserve their lifestyle but it's creating serious poverty issues in both states and now drug issues as people turn to more illicit ways to support themselves.   Yet the rallying cry continues to be "We must protect their way of life!"  Wouldn't it be better if instead of watching these towns die a slow death while spending more and more money to watch them crash we use that money to incentivize new industries to move in and create new jobs that will bring these communities into the 21st century?

[Tennesseer]

Keeping America healthy again.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Jun 9, 2017 13:39:55 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Keeping America healthy again.

Which will no doubt be listed as a pre-exisiting condition by insurance companies.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 9, 2017 13:43:25 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Jun 9, 2017 13:39:55 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Keeping America healthy again.

Which will no doubt be listed as a pre-exisiting condition by insurance companies.

"It was your choice to work in an industry where people get sick and die. No coverage for you!"

[grumpyhermit]

Jun 9, 2017 13:28:01 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Serious question I have yet to see anyone answer.  As technology evolves to replace people (who need pesky things like health insurance and workmen's comp) and less expensive alternatives to coal continue to progress what are all these coal miners going to do then?  Trump cannot force businesses who have moved to say, natural gas, to move back to coal in order to keep coal miners employed.

Are we really helping these people or are we continuing to delay the inevitable by supporting their dependency on a single industry?

I see it with farming communities in Iowa and Nebraska.  I have tremendous respect for farmers and understand wanting to preserve their lifestyle but it's creating serious poverty issues in both states and now drug issues as people turn to more illicit ways to support themselves.   Yet the rallying cry continues to be "We must protect their way of life!"  Wouldn't it be better if instead of watching these towns die a slow death while spending more and more money to watch them crash we use that money to incentivize new industries to move in and create new jobs that will bring these communities into the 21st century?

Trump doesn't care about keeping coal miners employed. Trump cares about making coal companies happy.

No business, or industry, is interested in helping people. They will ride the profits until they can't anymore. When the money finally dries up then they will move to other options, or close. They don't care about the impacts to the people, or to the environment. They care about how profitable it is.

In the short term the coal miners will be happy that they have jobs, and will continue to support that guys that appears to be on their side. Long term, we are screwing ourselves over, and are falling further and further behind on developing the real, sustainable, energy of the future.

[swasat]

Jun 9, 2017 13:28:01 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Serious question I have yet to see anyone answer.  As technology evolves to replace people (who need pesky things like health insurance and workmen's comp) and less expensive alternatives to coal continue to progress what are all these coal miners going to do then?  Trump cannot force businesses who have moved to say, natural gas, to move back to coal in order to keep coal miners employed.

Are we really helping these people or are we continuing to delay the inevitable by supporting their dependency on a single industry?

I see it with farming communities in Iowa and Nebraska.  I have tremendous respect for farmers and understand wanting to preserve their lifestyle but it's creating serious poverty issues in both states and now drug issues as people turn to more illicit ways to support themselves.   Yet the rallying cry continues to be "We must protect their way of life!"  Wouldn't it be better if instead of watching these towns die a slow death while spending more and more money to watch them crash we use that money to incentivize new industries to move in and create new jobs that will bring these communities into the 21st century?

I am sure OP has an answer for you. Research is their forte.

I am waiting with baited breath as well to hear just WHY the ol' mighty DT is so right in opening up a mine.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

As far as impacts to the environment. .. well those people dependent on clean waterways for their living can just go work in the coal mines, there will be plenty of jobs there!

Another serious question I have is why are the coal miners so darn special compared to anyone else in this country that is at risk of losing their job due to changing technology, modernization or profits?

What makes coal miners jobs so special and so important that they require presidential intervention to protect them?  I don't notice the car industry or steel industry getting the same treatment.  Both of those are important to American manufacturing and there are a lot of dying areas dependent on those industries who would probably appreciate a boost.

People tell me that's what I get for picking a dying industry and if I don't want to end up a welfare mooch then I better get off my duff and cross train for a new career that reflects the current market trends in the 21st century.

Why isn't the coal industry expected to do the same?

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Jun 9, 2017 13:02:23 GMT -5 Shooby said:

We just pretend that we can generate our energy needs with sunshine and wind and maybe the Good Weather Fairy.  

I read tesla has more job opening than the entire us coal industry. These are mainly manufacturing job, not tech.

The sun is the major power source in our solar system. all the coal and oil in the world couldn't keep us going without it.

Another article noted that China is positioning itself to be the lead manufacturer of renewable energy, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for Chinese manufacturing companies.

[swasat]

Jun 9, 2017 13:53:21 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

As far as impacts to the environment. .. well those people dependent on clean waterways for their living can just go work in the coal mines, there will be plenty of jobs there!

Another serious question I have is why are the coal miners so darn special compared to anyone else in this country that is at risk of losing their job due to changing technology, modernization or profits?

What makes coal miners jobs so special and so important that they require presidential intervention to protect them?  I don't notice the car industry or steel industry getting the same treatment.  Both of those are important to American manufacturing and there are a lot of dying areas dependent on those industries who would probably appreciate a boost.

People tell me that's what I get for picking a dying industry and if I don't want to end up a welfare mooch then I better get off my duff and cross train for a new career that reflects the current market trends in the 21st century.

Why isn't the coal industry expected to do the same?

Well, they are expected to. But coal is a highly politicized topic. It always has been . Just like womens rights. For decades the two parties have been battling it out on certain topics and coal is just one of them. 

Also, there is the romanticized version of the "good old way" of life. I swear lot of the rust belt lives by mantra and keep waiting for the lifestyle from the past t come back. Its useless to explain to them that ain't happening. 

US being the capitalist country it is, the corporations and interested in one thing: MONEY. With natural gas being so much cheaper than coal, why would any company want to invest in coal. Why do you think there has been such slow job growth in coal jobs despite Trump's beating of his chest about coal jobs blah blah blah? It IS a dying industry. It IS on its last legs. DT and his supporters can pretend all they want. 

[grumpyhermit]

Jun 9, 2017 13:53:21 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

As far as impacts to the environment. .. well those people dependent on clean waterways for their living can just go work in the coal mines, there will be plenty of jobs there!

Another serious question I have is why are the coal miners so darn special compared to anyone else in this country that is at risk of losing their job due to changing technology, modernization or profits?

What makes coal miners jobs so special and so important that they require presidential intervention to protect them?  I don't notice the car industry or steel industry getting the same treatment.  Both of those are important to American manufacturing and there are a lot of dying areas dependent on those industries who would probably appreciate a boost.

People tell me that's what I get for picking a dying industry and if I don't want to end up a welfare mooch then I better get off my duff and cross train for a new career that reflects the current market trends in the 21st century.

Why isn't the coal industry expected to do the same?

Does your industry have a bunch of lobbyists? Does it exist in apparent opposition to the "liberal agenda"?

I think a big part of the support for coal at the moment is that it has the added benefit of being a spiteful "fuck you" to all of the people worried about environmental impacts, and climate change.

[resolution]

Realistically, I don't think we are going to be able to incentivize enough businesses to move to remote areas to provide jobs for all the people that were put out of work through things like factory and mine closures.

I think small towns that want to retain their populations would be better off retraining their population with skills that could be used for telecommuting, so people won't be forced to move away with the jobs. I realize it is a big jump from a factor worker to a call center operator or coder, but perhaps they could also promote things like making things to sell on etsy or an ebay store or something.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Jun 9, 2017 14:02:05 GMT -5 grumpyhermit said:

Jun 9, 2017 13:53:21 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

As far as impacts to the environment. .. well those people dependent on clean waterways for their living can just go work in the coal mines, there will be plenty of jobs there!

Another serious question I have is why are the coal miners so darn special compared to anyone else in this country that is at risk of losing their job due to changing technology, modernization or profits?

What makes coal miners jobs so special and so important that they require presidential intervention to protect them?  I don't notice the car industry or steel industry getting the same treatment.  Both of those are important to American manufacturing and there are a lot of dying areas dependent on those industries who would probably appreciate a boost.

People tell me that's what I get for picking a dying industry and if I don't want to end up a welfare mooch then I better get off my duff and cross train for a new career that reflects the current market trends in the 21st century.

Why isn't the coal industry expected to do the same?

Does your industry have a bunch of lobbyists? Does it exist in apparent opposition to the "liberal agenda"?

I think a big part of the support for coal at the moment is that it has the added benefit of being a spiteful "fuck you" to all of the people worried about environmental impacts, and climate change.

I am a scientist.  We created the handbook for the liberal agenda.

[grumpyhermit]

Jun 9, 2017 14:05:58 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Jun 9, 2017 14:02:05 GMT -5 grumpyhermit said:

Does your industry have a bunch of lobbyists? Does it exist in apparent opposition to the "liberal agenda"?

I think a big part of the support for coal at the moment is that it has the added benefit of being a spiteful "fuck you" to all of the people worried about environmental impacts, and climate change.

I am a scientist.  We created the handbook for the liberal agenda.

Well, there's your answer then. You're doomed.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Jun 9, 2017 14:05:24 GMT -5 resolution said:

Realistically, I don't think we are going to be able to incentivize enough businesses to move to remote areas to provide jobs for all the people that were put out of work through things like factory and mine closures.

I think small towns that want to retain their populations would be better off retraining their population with skills that could be used for telecommuting, so people won't be forced to move away with the jobs. I realize it is a big jump from a factor worker to a call center operator or coder, but perhaps they could also promote things like making things to sell on etsy or an ebay store or something.

I don't think so either, but  Trump and the Republicans aren't going to be able to strong arm businesses into going backwards and re-investing in coal either.  If Natural gas or wind or solar or biofuel is more cost effective that's the direction businesses are going to go.  Trump cannot force people to use coal.

The industry and these towns dependent on them will die, it's not a matter if but when.

Personally I think we should rip off the band aid and get it over with.   There is no incentive to change if you can count on people bending over backwards to accomodate you.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Another example that Trump doesn't know what he's talking about. They mine coal for the steel industry and planned to open last year before Trump. Our largest importers of coal, Canada and China, are cutting back. The need for coal will not support bringing back jobs as Trump promised. As time goes on people will see he hasn't fulfilled any promises except when he said he'd be the first president to make money for himself while in office.