In a gathering that was a first-of-its-kind effort to bring together leaders for a “commonsense energy policy”, Manchin met with committee members Ron Wyden of Oregon and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

The group visited Arch Coal’s Mountain Laurel complex, reclaimed surface mining sites and the Mount Storm coal-fired power plant as well as a Marcellus Shale drilling pad and a wind farm.

“In West Virginia, we truly have an all-of-the-above approach to energy and, for the first time, I am bringing leaders in both parties together to see how our state is an example of how to develop a comprehensive energy policy using all our domestic resources,” Manchin said.

“I invited the incoming leaders of the powerful Senate energy committee to our state to see how we can do it all, and to explain how the country can follow this model.”

A Saturday press conference was also planned to discuss the findings from the tour, where state governor Earl Ray Tomblin appeared and joined the conversation.

Manchin told media during the conference that they saw some things which could be done better but also things WV is doing right.

“I think people have thought of West Virginia as producing coal and coal only, but we are trying to embrace all of this,” he said.

“We don’t want to be written out of the equation when it comes to energy production.”

Murkowski thanked West Virginians for “the 100-plus years you have been supplying our country with an affordable, reliable source of energy”

“But there are far too many areas where we are reliant to others for our sources of energy.”

She said she was interested in the work other states were doing to progress energy production along with local job creation and aiding with the national energy picture.

West Virginia, Murkowski added in her media remarks, is an exemplary example of that work to tap diverse resources.

Wyden said the Senate committee was dedicated to bipartisan energy independence and ensuring environmental regulation to protect the nation.

“I did not see anyone in West Virginia over the last two days that wanted to pillage and ravage their wonderful land, air and water,” he said.

“We need to work with the EPA to protect the environment while at the same time growing more good paying jobs.”

Murkowski is the leading Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resource committee. Wyden is soon to be the highest-ranking Democrat following the retirement of current chairman Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. Manchin also serves on that committee.