The top national miners union official says West Virginia should request an extension to submit a plan to comply with federal carbon emission standards on coal-fired power plants.
In prepared remarks Tuesday at the Governor’s Energy Summit at Stonewall Resort, United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts said West Virginia shouldn’t refuse to submit a plan to comply with the push against global warming. He said the state should request an extension until September 2018.
Roberts said West Virginia should plan to build new power plants co-fired by coal and natural gas.
If a state doesn’t submit a plan, a federal plan will be automatically implemented.
Roberts said the extension will give time for lawsuits against the carbon standards to wind through courts. The union is involved in litigation.