Coal Age

MAY 2013

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news continued almost double, leading to criticism from environmentalists and consumer groups. Duke, though, said Edwardsport is needed to keep the utility's generation portfolio diversified. Duke plans to retire hundreds of megawatts of older coal-burning capacity in Indiana over the next few years to comply with new Environmental Protection Agency rules. A smaller, 160-mw coal plant at the Knox County site was retired about a year ago to make way for the new plant. Tough Times for Kentucky Coal Business The numbers confirmed what Kentucky coal officials instinctively knew: 2012 was the worst year for coal production in the Commonwealth in almost half a century. Total output was down by 16.3% from 2011, plunging by 27.6% in the Central Appalachian coalfields in the eastern part of the state while high-sulfur western Kentucky managed a marginal 2.5% increase. Kentucky produced 91.4 million tons last year, its lowest total since 1965. Coal production peaked in the state at 131 million tons in 1990. Eastern Kentucky's sharp downturn was blamed on a variety of factors, including diminishing reserves, high labor costs, and heightened regulatory concerns over mountaintop removal mining that has come m under strong opposition from environmentalists. New mines and rising production at some existing operations in the western part of the state, in particular Alliance Resource Partners' River View underground steam coal mine in Union County, helped to narrow what once was a wide production gap between the state's two coal regions. Along with lower production, coal mining jobs also declined, according to the report released in April by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. The state lost 4,028 mining jobs last year, most of them in eastern Kentucky. Thanks to the 22% drop, Kentucky had 14,083 mining jobs at the end of 2012. Bill Bissett, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, said the disappointing news is not over for the industry. In 2013, "We will see some more job losses and production losses in eastern Kentucky," he said. "We know we're going to have a little bit more bad news, but we think that will stop." If Bissett is correct, 2014 should be a better year for the state's coal industry, with more improvements to come in 2015. "Export markets will provide opportunities for Central App but there continues to be hurdles getting coal to Bangalore (India) or wherever," Bissett said. "Our exports did double last year." Also, "There is the belief that the market for U.S. steam coal will increase...we're kind of waiting to see how that plays out." PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Michael Quillen, who earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from Virginia Tech in 1970 and in 1971, respectively, is a 2013 inductee into Virginia Tech's College of Engineering Academy of Engineering Excellence. Throughout the 1970s, Quillen worked two to Michael Quillen three jobs: a mine superintendent during the day and chief engineer for another company at night. And he was surveying in his spare time with a startup engineering company he formed with a Virginia Tech classmate. Quillen was named president of Paramont Coal Co. by the age of 31. His duties increased when he became president of WR Grace's Eastern Coal Group, managing three different coal companies. In 1994, the mining engineer became president of six of Pittston Coal Co.'s mines, managing divisions in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. A year later, Quillen was promoted to executive vice president of sales and marketing, and president of Pittston Coal Sales for Pittston Coal, where he gained experience in international business, especially in the Far East. In 2002, he along with others formed Alpha Natural Resources. In the spring of 2012, he formally retired as chairman of Alpha. Quillen continues to be involved with his alma mater. He currently serves as the rector of the University's Board of Visitors, and is a past member of the College and CEE Advisory Boards. He was the 2006 Distinguished Alumnus of the College. Most recently, Quillen was named 2011 Virginia Business Person of the Year. Peabody Energy announced that all 10 nominated members of the board of directors were re-elected for one-year terms at the company's annual meeting of shareholders. Re-elected directors are: Gregory H. Boyce, chairman and CEO of Peabody Energy; William A. Coley, former CEO and director of British Energy Group plc; William E. James, managing general partner of RockPort Capital Partners LLC; Robert B. Karn III, former managing partner with Arthur Andersen Financial & Consulting in St. Louis; Henry E. Lentz, former managing director of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC; Robert A. Malone, former executive vice president of 14 www.coalage.com BP plc and former chairman and president of BP America Inc.; William C. Rusnack, former president and CEO of Premcor Inc.; John F. Turner, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Sandra A. Van Trease, group president of BJC Healthcare; and Alan H. Washkowitz, former managing director of Lehman Brothers Inc. The board thanked M. Frances Keeth, former executive vice president of Royal Dutch Shell, plc, and former CEO and president of Shell Chemicals Ltd., for her distinguished service upon her retirement from the board. Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. announced that Steven Raguz, executive vice president, corporate strategy and communications and chief strategy officer, will leave the company in May. Jackson Kelly PLLC recently expanded its legal services capabilities with the hiring of attorneys Robert D. Comer, Michael T. Jewell, Susan V. Anderson and Steven M. Nagy. Robert Comer Michael Jewell Susan Anderson Steven Nagy DeZURIK Inc. has appointed Bryan Burns president and COO. Miner Enterprises Inc. has promoted Paul Aspengren to sales engineer. Bryan Burns TRIO Engineered Products Inc. has appointed Alberto Lopez regional sales manager for Mexico. Paul Aspengren May 2013

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