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Missy
Mae Walters explaining the benefits of coal to the group. Lyn Bliss
photos
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Darke
GOP Men Host Coal Representative
By Lyn Bliss, Associate Editor
Missy Mae Walters was the featured speaker at the recent Darke County
Republican Men's Club Meeting. Walters is the Southwest Ohio Regional
Coordinator for Count on Coal.
Eighty-two per-cent of Ohio's energy is generated through the use of
coal - providing 118.1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, or enough
power for the equivalent of 4.8 million homes and 212,000 businesses.
Ohio ranks number ten in the nation in coal production and number four
in coal use. This helps Ohio maintain its rank at number 29 in the
nation for energy affordability. Coal provides approximately 46% of the
United States' electricity and constitutes approximately 94% of the
nation's fossil fuel resources. The United States has nearly 261
billion tons of recoverable coal reserves. According to the Energy
Information Administration, at current usage rates, this would provide
the United States with a 249 year supply.
The national average cost for kWh is 9.88¢, while Ohio's average is
9.12¢. Direct and indirect employment generated by coal mining in
Ohio accounts for 21,220 jobs for a combined payroll of $1.2 billion.
"The correlation between coal-fueled electricity and economic growth is
near-perfect. For example, states that rely predominantly on coal
generation are generally the states with the lowest electricity rates.
Twenty of the twenty-five states with the lowest electricity costs rely
upon coal generation for at least 40% of their electricity ─ and all
have rates below the national average. It is no coincidence that these
states also have the highest concentrations of manufacturing."
explained information Walters provided. "Some lawmakers and politicians
at the Environmental Protection Agency are over-reaching in their
attempts to limit the use of coal for electricity generation. When they
try to stop us from using coal, they attack the very foundations of our
nation. Coal was the answer generations ago as we built this nation.
It's the answer today as we struggle to restore and renew our economy
and make the lives of our people better once again. And, it's the
answer for generations to come."
For more information regarding Count on Coal, go to www.countoncoal.org.
The Darke County Republican Men's Club meets at 8 a.m. on the third
Saturday of every month, except August, in the Chestnut Café (formerly
known as the Staff Cafeteria) of the Brethren Home Retirement
Community. Breakfast is available for a $6 donation. The next regularly
scheduled meeting will be January 19 and the speaker will be Ohio
Representative Richard N. Adams (R-80). For further details, please
contact President Gary Young at DCRMPresident@darkegop.org
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Outgoing
President Hershel Fee (L) congratulates incoming President Gary Young.
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Missy
Mae Walters, Southwest Ohio Regional Coordinator for Count on Coal,
speaks to the Darke County Republican Men’s Club.
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Outgoing
President Hershel Fee opens the meeting.
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Secretary
- Treasurer Ken Wombold, the energy that keeps the men's club healthy.
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