[Hoot Gibson]

How will it help the coal mines. From my understanding Gas is much much cheaper right now. I believe Vector asked In another thread and TheRealThing avoided the question. How will it help the coal mines?

In the short run, it won't help much because, like you said, low gas prices are hurting the coal industry now - and also large stockpiles that are the result of a mild winter are not helping matters. The damage that Obama is doing to the coal industry is long term and electing Romney will be a big boost to coal mining in the future.

There is no way that the industry will survive in the Appalachian coal fields if companies cannot obtain adequate permits to operate. The EPA is currently trying to regulate the coal industry out of business through regulation and that is something that Romney can halt immediately.

Gas prices will begin to rise as demand rises to meet the supply. Remember, low gas prices do not provide much of an incentive to companies to drill, so producers will be looking to develop new markets where customers will be willing to spend more. Low gas prices, if they persist, will spur conversion of bus and truck fleets to natural gas operation. All of the many buses that operate in both Washington's Metro system, and in Fairfax County's bus system already run on natural gas. You can bet that there are many conversion projects already in progress around the country and natural gas consumption by buses, trucks, and automobiles is poised for a substantial increase.

The coal industry will rebound if the federal government allows it to revive itself. However, the longer miners are out of work, the harder it becomes to find qualified, trained, sober miners for companies to hire. Another four years of Obama will mean another four years of decline for the industry and things will only get worse with time.