Associated Press Published

W.Va. Coalfields Senate Panel Sets First Meeting

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A state Senate panel studying how to revitalize West Virginia’s struggling southern coalfields has scheduled its first meeting.

The Southern Coalfields Organizing and Revitalizing the Economy initiative, or SCORE, group will meet Wednesday evening. The meeting will take place at the Raleigh County Commission on Aging in Beckley.

It’s the first in a series of regional listening sessions. The group will then present recommendations for consideration in the 60-day legislative session starting in January.

Senate President Jeff Kessler’s 13-member task force will look at a variety of ways to boost the coalfields.

Some include increasing tourism advertising, education and workforce development and retraining, redevelopment projects, agribusiness and rural development, better broadband Internet, expanded intermodal transportation, development of coalbed methane, and clean coal research and development.