Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is the only member of
the state's congressional delegation whose comments did not fight Obama's
climate initiatives, but rather fit coal into a lower-emissions energy
framework. Making "clean coal" technologies such as carbon capture affordable, Rockefeller
said, is essential if coal is to have a future in the U.S.
energy mix.
"What we need is
a strong pivot to the future," Rockefeller said. "Our coal miners deserve, and
our state and nation need, an all-out effort at every level to invest in clean
coal technology. We've proven, right here in West Virginia, that clean coal can work, and we need
to build on those advances."
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin applauded Obama's calls
for bipartisanship and compromise in solving the nation's problems, including
the national debt.
"I was pleased to hear the president strike a bipartisan
and cooperative tone in his speech last night," Manchin said. "He
discussed common sense priorities and a balanced approach to getting our fiscal
house in order and creating American jobs. I was, however, disappointed when he
refused to mention coal when he discussed controlling our energy future. I've
consistently pushed for an all-of-the-above energy policy and the president
must do the same. Any discussion of our nation's energy future must include
coal."
Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who represents southern West
Virginia, said Obama was "absolutely wrong" in his
efforts to use executive action to "circumvent the Congress.
"I intend to keep doing all that I can to promote coal
and keep our miners on the job producing affordable energy for the
nation."
On the other side of the aisle, Republicans from West
Virginia took a tough stance against Obama's climate
initiatives. Rep. David McKinley,
acknowledged the phenomenon of climate change, but said he disagrees with the
broad scientific consensus that humans contribute to climate change.
"Despite the inconclusive science, the president made it
clear he will take action that would cause considerable damage to our already
weak economy," McKinley said.
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she was frustrated
at Obama's misguided economic and energy agendas, saying the president has
"attacked West Virginia
resources from Day One."
"He said it himself, if Congress doesn't act on climate
legislation, he will," she said. "He expressly said that he would
pick winners and losers in the energy economy, and we all know coal will be in
the losing column."
Obama also
called for improvements to energy efficiency in homes and businesses and to
create an Energy Security Trust funded by oil and gas revenues to shift cars
and truck off of oil.
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