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# WVBrightFuture. A BRIGHT ECONOMIC FUTURE FOR THE MOUNTAIN STATE. A Roadmap for Sustainable Economic Development in West Virginia. L. Jeremy Richardson Union of Concerned Scientists. Study Areas. Northern WV: 29 Northern App counties. Non-Mining counties. Southern WV:
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#WVBrightFuture A BRIGHT ECONOMIC FUTURE FOR THE MOUNTAIN STATE
A Roadmap for Sustainable Economic Development in West Virginia L. Jeremy Richardson Union of Concerned Scientists
Study Areas Northern WV: 29 Northern App counties Non-Mining counties Southern WV: Central App counties
Questions? JRichardson@ucsusa.org
Research Questions • What factors will impact coal production in the coming decade, and how will WV be affected? • What are the employment trends in the mining industry for the state? • How are different parts of WV (which mine different types of coal) vulnerable to these changes?
Pressures on Coal • Low Natural Gas Prices • Environmental Regulations • Declining Productivity • Competition with Other Regions • Competition with Renewables and Efficiency • Economic Recession and Excess Capacity • Climate Change Policy
Methods • Considered different EIA scenarios for coal production through 2020 • Estimated WV production based on average from previous three years • Conducted multi-regional analysis using an input-output model to gauge employment and output impacts