Letter to the editor: We shouldn't be celebrating coal

Early this month, Sen. Pat Stefano introduced the 2022 Bituminous Coal Queen, Brianna Hensh, on the floor of the state Senate.

The coal queen, Stefano said, “represents the coal industry, which is a major economic driver in our region.”

Indeed, Brianna is an excellent candidate to receive a major award in our state’s capitol. But it’s unfortunate that this award is stained by the polluting legacy of the coal industry.

Across Pennsylvania, we’re still dealing with the fallout from historic mines. Pennsylvania is home to more pollution from abandoned mines than any other state, with more than 250,000 acres of abandoned mine lands and 5,500 miles of impaired streams. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, reclaiming these health and safety hazards would cost $1 billion.

Modern-day coal advocates state that the coal industry provides nearly 18,000 jobs. They praise coal’s energy efficiency and impact on our state’s economy. But their numbers don’t look so good.

In comparison, Pennsylvania employs 593,000 people in agriculture. Tourism employs 521,100 people — almost 15,000 people in Stefano’s Laurel Highlands region alone. In terms of its economic contributions to the state, mining is behind manufacturing, real estate and even retail sales.

The coal queen, in glittering crown and sash, represents the industry’s bright facade. Indeed, she is an incredible young woman. Surely we could find a better way to celebrate her than by placing the coal industry’s tainted crown upon her head.

Colleen O’Neill

Melcroft

The writer is a communications specialist for the Mountain Watershed Association.