Published: February 1, 2018 |

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The coal industry has experienced a modest rebound during President Donald’s Trump first year in office, and that impact may be felt locally in 2018.

As our David Hurst reported last week, as many as 40 miners could be working at the Cresson Mine by year’s end.

“On the metallurgical side, the market has already been stronger, longer than what we expected to see at this time last year. It’s a good sign,” said Jim Barker, executive vice president of Rosebud Mining.

Metallurgical coal is used in steel production for high-rise buildings and bridges.

According to its website, Rosebud is the third-largest coal producer in Pennsylvania and the 21st largest in the United States.

The company also operates Madison Mine in Jackson Township and Mine 78 near Windber, and has coal processing plants in Paint and Portage townships.

Barker told Hurst that coal removal at the mine’s portal began late last year, but frigid temperatures halted the project before an initial shift of up to 20 workers could get underground to continue working. Miners have been transferred to Madison Mine during the delay.

Work on the portal and underground is expected to continue in April, Barker said, and the number of workers could double by the end of the year if the demand for metallurgical coal remains strong.

This isn’t the first time the Cresson project has been delayed.

Plans to open the mine were originally announced 12 years ago, but market and environmental issues put the project on hold.

Rosebud acquired the property in 2016 and revived the plans.

Barker said the Cresson Mine could produce as much as 400,000 tons of coal a year once the operation resumes.

The news out of Cresson is just the latest highlighting coal’s recovery in the region.

Corsa Coal opened Acosta Mine in Jenner Township last summer, an operation that is expected to create up to 70 jobs. A video message by Trump played at Acosta’s grand opening.

And Wilson Creek Energy, a Corsa subsidiary, has recently proposed opening Keyser Deep Mine, which would underlie nearly 4,000 acres of land in Conemaugh and Jenner townships.

“When I campaigned for president, I said that we would end the war on coal and put our incredible miners ... back to work. Thanks to your support in November, that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Trump said in his message played at Acosta.

“One by one, we are eliminating the regulations that threaten your jobs, and that’s one of the big reasons you’re opening today — less regulation.”

Unfortunately, not all the news is promising. Earlier this month, a company, Dana Mining of Morgantown, West Virginia, announced plans that it was closing 4 West Mine in Mount Morris, Greene County, near the West Virginia border, which will result in about 400 job losses.

But as we’re seeing locally, the coal industry is just as likely to have a positive impact on the economy.

We’re hoping companies follow through with their plans to add jobs to revitalize the industry.

Source: The Tribune-Democrat

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