West Virginia is an energy state.  Supporting an all of the above energy policy that includes West Virginia coal and natural gas, oil produced in North America, together with renewable energy, is one of Congresswoman Capito’s most important legislative initiatives. 

As a co-chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus, Congresswoman Capito is a leader in the fight against excessive and unnecessary regulations from the EPA and other federal agencies aimed at reducing both the production of and the demand for West Virginia coal.  She was a co-sponsor of the Stop the War on Coal Act and has fought to protect the jobs of miners as well as the truckers, contractors, railroad employees, utility workers, and many others whose jobs have been placed at risk by the current regulatory efforts targeting coal. 

Congresswoman Capito has authored legislation that would require the EPA to perform an economic assessment of any regulation that would negatively impact employment and hold public hearings in local communities adversely affected by regulatory decisions.

West Virginians are proud to produce the energy that powers our country.  Our state has, however, experienced tragic accidents in our coal mines.  Congresswoman Capito was a leader in passing the MINER Act after the Sago Mine accident to improve mine rescue technologies and enhance the safety of West Virginia coal miners. 

Thanks to our country’s abundant reserves of coal, natural gas, and oil, America has a real chance of becoming energy independent and ridding ourselves of our dependence on imports from volatile parts of the world.  Energy independence will only come if we make use of our domestic resource and avoid stifling exploration with over regulation.  For this reason, Congresswoman Capito supports responsible development of shale gas in West Virginia and across the country. 

Making use of our energy resources in West Virginia and across America will provide good jobs for our citizens, enhance our national security, and make our nation less vulnerable to sharp fluctuations in price that occur due to our reliance on foreign energy sources.  Congresswoman Capito will continue working for a truly “all of the above” energy plan that avoids picking winners and losers, and instead focuses on energy independence through development of all of our energy resources.