On January 12, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright appointed Chris Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of the West Virginia Coal Association, to serve as a member of the National Coal Council (NCC). The association said that Secretary Wright’s appointment of Hamilton recognizes his decades of leadership and advocacy for coal communities, energy policy development, and job preservation within…
Read MoreDay: January 14, 2026
Atkins tapped for National Coal Council
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has appointed Ramaco Resources Chairman and CEO Randall Atkins as a member of the re-established National Coal Council (NCC). The move allows Atkins to return to NCC service; he was the last chairman of the council in 2021 when former President Biden allowed the charter to lapse, forcing it to cease operations. “The Council’s…
Read MoreCoal’s comeback: A year of realism, renewal, and restored confidence
The following is an op-ed from the West Virginia Coal Association. It has been edited only for style and clarity. Looking back at 2025 – and forward with confidence. As the calendar turns, it is worth pausing to take stock of where we’ve been and where we’re headed. For America’s coal industry – and especially for the men and women…
Read MoreNIOSH employees get fully reinstated
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) announced January 14 that, following nine months of pressure from its members, labor allies and public health experts, all employees of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) who received layoff notices have been fully reinstated.
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