It was an inspiring day for U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis as she visited the Patriot Coal Corporation’s Federal #2 mine in Fairview, West Virginia. Solis said she is impressed with the how much energy comes out of the Mountain State.

 

“Whenever you turn on the light switch, people may not think that it may have come from the coal that was mined here in West Virginia;” said the U.S. Secretary of Labor. “I understand 50 percent of that coal comes from this state. So that’s a very important factor for us to always be aware of and mindful, but we also want to look at how we can provide incentives for new technologies, clean technologies this area and that’s something that I hope to do.”

 

Solis went 700 feet down into the mine and two miles out. She says she has a lot of respect for the people who go into the Earth everyday to help get energy for the people in the United State.

 

“I am out here to say that we stand by the workers, we stand by the good business men who make these investments to help be ahead of the challenge so we know that when miners come into a mine in the morning that they can come home at night and that to me is the bottom line, that we provide as much safety and protection the Department of Labor is looking to increase overall,” said Solis.

 

Also visiting the mine with Secretary Solis was West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin and Congressman Alan Molahan. Both sat in on the round table discussion Solis had with the coal miners and Manchin said he feels the miners got their message across.

 

“They were able to show what they’re able to do and what they’ve been doing," said the Governor. "They are very proud of that, but also what this means to the nation and not just to West Virginia and not just the jobs they have, but the product that they provide really is what kept this nation and what continues to keep this nation a world power.”

 

After her visit to the mine, Secretary Solis said she is going to make sure more representative from the nation’s capital will make the same trip and have the same experience she did when visiting Federal Mine Number 2.

 

“I’m going to encourage folks form Washington and members of the house to come out here and visit first hand what I saw.”