Jan 11 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Fred Pace The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.

Can a black rock that is so important to America's energy strategy go green and become an environmentally friendly energy source?

Turning coal green was an important topic of discussion on the second day of the 35th annual West Virginia Coal Association Mining Symposium.

Industry officials say coal is under attack from something now termed "Global Climate Change."

Jim Roberts, chairman of the National Mining Association, said it doesn't matter if the coal industry wants to accept global climate change as a real thing. He said global climate change is probably the single largest concern of the coal industry.

"We must become more active regarding proposed global climate change legislation," Roberts said. "We must come together as an industry and support legislation that offers a technology solution to global climate change."

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., told those in attendance the technology exists to turn coal into liquid and gas energy sources.

"We have a great opportunity here for coal," he said. "This gas made from coal could be the replacement of the very oil we are dependent upon, which has dragged our nation for decades into foreign policy and national security problems."

Rockefeller said the future of coal in West Virginia and the entire nation looks brighter than ever before.

"That is for two reasons," he said. "One, coal is the greatest source of energy we have, and the demand for coal will continue to be enormous."

Gov. Joe Manchin, who also spoke at the event, said he believes with the help of clean coal technologies America could become independent of foreign oil.

"By 2030, this nation could be truly independent of foreign oil," he said. "But it can only happen by using coal."

Manchin said turning the coal extraction process green must also be a part of the industry's future.

"If that land is put back in a renewable resource, like putting a wind farm, solar farm, or you want to grow switch grass so we can have a renewable resource for biomass and biofuels, then do it. Let's do something to make it productive."

Manchin said West Virginia can and will do a better job regarding post-mine land use.

National energy policy also needs to address the high cost of clean coal technology, Manchin said.

"We are talking about the greening of coal and we know that we can do it," he said. "We must do it. Coal is going to be our energy, our major energy source for at least the next 30 or 50 years."

He said national energy policy should prevent the exorbitant cost of such plants being borne by utility customers in one state.

State environmental groups oppose Manchin's pursuit of coal-to-liquid technology as unproven and costly. Though they credited Manchin for including global warming in his State of the State, they complained at a Capitol news conference Thursday that his legislative agenda ignored all their recommendations.

They countered with a "Citizens' Energy Plan." Among other measures, it would make public buildings more efficient, promote conservation and link a vehicle's registration fee to its fuel efficiency instead of it value.

"We need to develop an energy plan that isn't afraid to tackle the tough topics," said Don Garvin, lobbyist for the West Virginia Environmental Council.

West Virginia Coal Association president Bill Raney said the symposium offers the opportunity for the industry to come together to discuss current trends, mine health and safety developments, and environmental issues.

"It is also an opportunity to recognize industry members for their outstanding safety and environmental efforts," he said.

The event continues today at the Charleston House Holiday Inn. Environmental Protection Secretary Stephanie Timmermeyer will highlight exemplary reclamation accomplishments and there will be a legislative reception.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.