January 17, 2026 - West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton considered it a high honor to be appointed to the National Coal Council. The announcement of his appointment came in recent days. Along with being an honor, Hamilton said it’s also an opportunity for West Virginia coal.

“Here in West Virginia we’re going to be focusing primarily on the electric generating side of the business and coal exports,” said Hamilton.

Chris Hamilton

A large volume of West Virginia’s steam coal is shipped overseas and a large amount of that marketing will continue while demand for coal is strong.

The council’s duty is to advise and make recommendations the U.S. Department of Energy on policy matters, technology, and strategic priorities. Hamilton said it’s a seat at the table for West Virginia coal and the first time there’s been a seat at the table for quite a while. Hamilton said the Council was largely unheard during the Obama and Biden years. He said an attempt to restart it under President Trump’s first term didn’t last very long.

Hamilton said a major priority has to be the nation’s energy makeup and understanding coal’s unique role in the plan.

“If we don’t get serious about building a new coal facility right here next to these long term coal supplies, it will be our fault here over the next couple of years. We absolutely have to partner with the Federal Department of Energy and make that a priority,” he said.

Hamilton said another priority the state needs to look at is development and construction of a coking facility somewhere in southern West Virginia to gain further benefit from the state’s vast metallurgical coal reserves which are being shipped all over the world.