Alpha Natural Resources Miner David Green delivered a stirring speech at the Count on Coal D.C. rally last Tuesday.
Green touched on a number of important issues to the coal community and cautioned the EPA's new regulations on coal fired power plants are an underhanded attempt at crushing the entire industry.
Green said the coal community supports battling climate change and preserving the planet, but asked how the U.S. can expect to preserve the planet when implementing these new regulations will not preserve the people of the coal industry.
Wind and solar energy may at some point prove to be viable alternatives but right now they can only provide a fraction of our nation's energy requirements, Green observed.
"This is a plea for our people, for our families, for our children" Green said. "The miner is the epitome of the American worker. With a strong back and a big heart they're providing an essential commodity to this nation. And so in our quest to preserve our nation and to preserve our planet, may we not fail and may we never forget to preserve our greatest resource, our greatest national treasure, our American people."
