By Matthew Daly, Associated Press, January 9, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the nation’s largest privately owned coal company is blasting a decision by an independent energy agency to reject the Trump administration’s plan to bolster coal-fired power plants.

Robert Murray, CEO of Ohio-based Murray Energy Corp., says the action by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could lead to more closures of coal-fired power plants and the loss of thousands of jobs.

Murray said Tuesday that the Republican-controlled commission chose “a bureaucratic cop-out” that will raise the cost of electricity and jeopardize the reliability and security of the nation’s electric grid.

Murray says the recent cold snap that hit the East Coast showed coal’s value, as power users in the Southeast were asked to cut back on electricity usage because of a shortage of natural gas.

NOTE: On December 5, 2013, MURRAY purchased Consolidation Coal Company from CONSOL Energy, Inc. This was a transformative transaction for Murray Energy Corporation, in which they acquired: The Ohio County Coal Company’s Ohio County Mine (formerly Shoemaker Mine); The Marshall County Coal Company’s Marshall County Mine (formerly McElroy Mine); The Marion County Coal Company’s Marion County Mine (formerly Loveridge Mine); The Harrison County Coal Company’s Harrison County Mine (formerly Robinson Run Mine); and The Monongalia County Coal Company’s Monongalia County Mine (formerly Blacksville Mine). The Consolidation Coal Company name has been changed to Murray American Energy, Inc. (“Murray American”).

Source: http://www.wtrf.com/news/coal-ceo-blasts-federal-agencys-decision-on-power-grid/908040321