A Celebration of Appalachian and Virginia Coal Jobs featuring Music and Family Entertainment

RICHMOND, Va., April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Federation for American Coal Energy and Security (FACES of Coal) announced they will be holding a Virginia Coal Rally at the Washington County Fairgrounds on June 2nd from 11:00am to 4:00pm. The Rally is being billed as a celebration of Appalachian and Virginia Coal Jobs and will feature live entertainment as well as an open forum to highlight the importance of coal to Virginia and the country. Confirmed participants include Virginia Senate candidate George Allen, Virginia Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Tennessee Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey. Invited speakers include Presidential Candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Virginia Senate candidate Tim Kaine, Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb. The rally is being coordinated with the Eastern Coal Council and includes participation from several Virginia and Appalachian based businesses.

"Coal is a huge part of Virginia's economy; whether it is in the coal fields, the ports in Hampton Roads or the affordable electricity Virginia businesses enjoy across the state, coal is a jobs creator," said Petrina Jones, executive director of Virginia FACES of Coal. "This rally is an opportunity for coal supporters to come together and send a message to Washington D.C. that the bureaucratic attacks on coal need to stop."

In recent months the EPA and the Obama Administration have made their mission to destroy the coal industry clear. Recent EPA released rules including the MACT Rule and GHG Emissions Rule will have devastating effects on Appalachian and Virginia coal mining operations. These actions come on the heels of the surface mining permit moratorium the Obama Administration's EPA placed over all of Appalachia.

"This will be a family friendly, informative and most of all, fun event," continued Jones. "We are proud of Virginia coal and coal miners and we intend to stand up with Virginia's elected leaders to defend coal jobs and defend Virginia's economy.  If the Obama Administration thinks they can just attack our jobs and pretend we won't notice, they are wrong and we will make sure they know they are wrong."

The Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security (FACES of Coal) is an alliance of more than 75,000 people from all walks of life who are joining forces to educate lawmakers and the general public about the importance of coal and coal mining to our local and national economies and to our nation's energy security.  In addition to keeping tens of thousands of people employed in good-paying jobs, coal is the lifeblood of our domestic energy supply, generating nearly half the electricity consumed in the United States today.

SOURCE FACES of Coal