The Shadow
Coal: Yesterday and Today
May 8, 2025, will mark the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers in World War II.
Dubbed “Victory in Europe Day”, Nazi Germany could not sustain a two-front war.
The United States endured great losses but overcame the Nazi war machine. We did so, in part, thanks to the American worker, who helped manufacture and produce equipment for weapons, ships and planes for America’s forces.
The steel that supported our military’s forces was produced thanks to coal mining in areas like Southwest Virginia.
The high demand for coal to manufacture and produce steel meant coal miners greatly helped contribute to the American war effort.
Miners from Jewell Ridge Coal Corporation, based in Tazewell County, were some of the thousands of miners in Southwest Virginia.
According to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, one historical account lists Jewell Ridge Coal as one of the 10 largest coal producers in America during World War II.
One of Jewell Ridge Coal’s clients was the United States Navy, whose fleet included some coal-fired ships.
Jewell Ridge Coal is closely associated with the Virginia Smokeless Coal Company.
“Smokeless coal” refers to the process of burning coal while emitting very little to no smoke.
American naval forces in World War I employed smokeless coal ships to reduce the visibility of their warships, making it harder for enemies to identify the ships from a distance.
The Appalachian Project, a heritage organization, states that the Jewell Smokeless coke ovens first opened in 1960 in Vansant, Virginia, located in Buchanan County.
Today, SunCoke Energy owns and operates the Vansant coke ovens.
The coke ovens burn off excess gas from the coal to create coke.
Coke helps generate enough heat to melt the ore and removes oxygen from iron ore in order to make steel.
According to their website, SunCoke is the largest independent coke supplier in North America. At Vansant, they employ over 100 people and their work illustrates that coal still contributes to American industry as it did during World War II.
American industry is poised to continue its relationship with coal following a major White House announcement in April.
President Trump held a special ceremony at the White House. Trump announced and signed several Executive Orders aimed at boosting domestic coal production and use in America.
I attended the event and joined several other lawmakers who are leaders of the Congressional Coal Caucus.
The event featured dozens of coal workers in their uniforms and helmets. One of the miners wore a helmet sporting a Virginia Tech logo. They all stood on stage with Trump and a few spoke thanking Trump for his actions to help American coal.
Trump remarked how beautiful and clean America’s coal is, highlighting that America’s innovative technologies position us to burn coal and do it cleaner than anywhere else in the world.
In fact, Virginia’s Ninth District is home to one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the world!
On the other hand, Communist China, which pollutes the environment through its dirty coal, shows no signs of closing down their dirty coal-fired power plants.
In fact, they are opening up more, in order to win the battle for artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy!
Trump’s actions will help American coal facilities operate without discriminatory, burdensome government regulations.
The President also touted the essential role coal can play in the AI revolution.
Under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, the EPA has outlined its goal of making America the AI capital of the world.
I believe this priority is incredibly important.
In a recent Energy and Commerce hearing, we welcomed Dr. Eric Schmidt as a witness to discuss the future of AI and its importance to American global competitiveness.
Dr. Schmidt, who spent part of his youth in Blacksburg, testified that the U.S. should have an all-of-the-above energy portfolio and that harmful regulations on the energy industry as a whole should be loosened to help American industries meet the power demand required for AI.
While coal’s exact contributions to AI are yet to be determined, America will need to tap into many energy sources if we are to lead the world in AI.
Accordingly, I will continue supporting policies that unleash American energy, stabilize America’s electric grid and protect American manufacturing.
80 years ago, America was tasked with leading the free world and defeating Nazi oppression. Today, an additional leadership role is on the horizon: leading the world in clean coal and AI.
If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at morgangriffith.house.gov.
