West Virginia Governor’s Coal-Subsidy Pitch Troubles Westerners

Coal companies from outside Appalachia, and the Republicans in Congress representing them, are taking a dim view of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s efforts to win a $4.5 billion subsidy for eastern coal.

To those non-Appalachian coal companies, Justice’s request for a $15 per ton subsidy to power plants that burn regional coal smacks of unfair treatment. Justice announced earlier this month that he would switch from the Democratic to the Republican party.

Amy Estes, a spokeswoman for South Dakota-based Black Hills Energy, told Bloomberg BNA the company “has never asked for anything more than a level playing field for ...