While coal executives clashed with environmental advocates regarding Donald Trump’s election as president, union workers struck a middle ground in reacting to the New York billionaire’s rise to power, the Wheeling (W.Va.) News-Register reported today. Murray Energy Corp. CEO Robert E. Murray, a critic of Obama and his Environmental Protection Agency, continues battling regulations such as the Clean Power Plan and the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in court. He plans to close the Powhatan No. 6 Mine in December, but has steadily reduced the number of active coal miners working at his various facilities throughout Obama’s presidency. During the campaign, Trump often pledged to put coal miners back to work and help reopen mines that have closed while Obama has been in office. “Mr. Trump has a mandate to carry out all of the policies that he said he would implement during his campaign. And, he has the courage, passion, and commitment to do so,” Murray said. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Murray Energy was the nation’s fifth-largest coal producer in 2014, grinding out 62.8 million tons. Three of the top five producers have filed for bankruptcy during the last two years. Murray Energy officials are trying to avoid this.
