Pennsylvania Coal Alliance chief executive officer John Pippy joined with Amerikohl Mining president John Stilley and Congressman Keith Rothfus outside Pittsburgh to discuss the impact emissions limits on miners and power plant workers, particularly in the coal-rich region of western Pennsylvania.

“Coal is still among the most affordable, reliable and abundant fuel source both within Pennsylvania and nationally, and is well positioned to play a significant role in helping to secure our energy future as well as opportunities worldwide,” Pippy said, noting the US maintained 30% of the world's coal supply.

Additionally, the nation has a 482-billion-ton demonstrated reserve base, an amount comparable in energy value to the entire world's known reserves of petroleum.

“Thanks to powerful demand from rapidly developing countries such as China and India, coal is the fastest growing fuel worldwide and is widely expected to surpass oil as the world's number one energy source by 2017,” Pippy said.

The conference was planned in the days before Tuesday’s announcement by US President Barack Obama that significant changes to greenhouse gas reductions were coming, both domestically and internationally.

Obama cited a June 19 Wall Street Journal item that spurred the news, which prompted the group to come together to address the potential impacts on those around them: western Pennsylvania coal miners and power plant workers as well as their families.

“Coal is an abundant, affordable, and reliable source of energy,” Rothfus said.

“It is critical to growing our economy and adding jobs in western Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, President Obama's war on coal is stalling economic growth, threatening the jobs of manufacturers, coal miners and power plant workers, and hurting western Pennsylvania families and communities.”