Southern West Virginia News

On August 2, 2024, Congresswoman Miller (R-WV) and Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) published an op-ed in the Washington Examiner discussing the impact of President Biden's policies on economic opportunity and energy production in Appalachia.

The article, titled "Biden’s war on Appalachia," argues that President Biden's administration has reversed the progress made under former President Donald Trump. According to Miller and Reschenthaler, “After years of progress made under former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden has devastated economic growth and energy production in Appalachia."

They highlighted that during Trump's tenure, middle-class family incomes increased by nearly $6,000 and wages for low-income and blue-collar workers rose by 16%. They credited these gains to pro-growth policies that led to America becoming the top producer of oil and natural gas globally and a net energy exporter for the first time in seven decades.

However, they claim that much of this energy independence was lost with Biden's introduction of what they describe as a "socialist economic agenda" and Green New Deal policies. The authors argue that these initiatives have contributed to record inflation, making life unaffordable for many Americans.

The op-ed criticizes specific actions taken by the Biden administration, such as the indefinite pause on liquefied natural gas exports which they say has had a negative impact on the region. EQT Corp., a major domestic natural gas producer, warned that this decision would have a “chilling effect” on Appalachia.

Furthermore, they noted other measures such as shutting down coal-fired power plants, implementing regulations affecting steel manufacturing, and over 200 executive actions complicating energy production in states like Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Miller and Reschenthaler assert their efforts in Congress are aimed at countering these trends. They highlighted the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), which is expected to stimulate local economies through royalties to landowners and investments into rural communities. The MVP also supported approximately 15,000 union jobs during its construction phase.

In addition to promoting job creation through projects like MVP, Miller and Reschenthaler discussed their establishment of the Congressional Appalachian Caucus. This caucus aims to promote policies fostering job creation, enhancing national energy independence, and stimulating regional economic growth. Among their legislative initiatives is bipartisan support for capturing coal mine methane emissions as an energy source while reducing air pollution.

They also referenced studies indicating significant reserves of lithium within the Marcellus Shale basin—a critical resource for various industries—and emphasized finding rare earth elements within coal byproducts as essential steps toward reducing dependence on foreign sources like China.

The congress members concluded with a commitment: “We won’t let [burdensome regulations] happen. The public can rest assured that our caucus will be at the forefront of holding the Biden administration accountable should it attempt to restrict or limit this incredible opportunity for these communities.”

They pledged continued advocacy against what they see as detrimental policies from the current administration: “The region has suffered enough under Biden’s anti-energy agenda —and we won’t let it continue."