McKinley, R-W.Va., who was recently named chairman of the Congressional Coal Caucus for the 114th Congress, said West Virginia is suffering under low natural gas prices and an inability to export its product.

"We've got this glut. We've got to find a way to get our gas out of West Virginia and into other markets," McKinley said. "But we don't have the pipeline. We've got a real dilemma in how are we going to get this gas out of West Virginia."

Even with a pipeline, the state would not be able to reach foreign markets, such as Europe and Japan, which are purchasing natural gas at much higher rates.

"There is not one facility in America that can process (the natural gas) to be sent oversees," he said.

McKinley placed much of the blame squarely on the administration of President Barack Obama, which McKinley says has harmed the state's coal and energy industry with unconstitutional mandates and has slowed down the process for converting existing coal-fired power plants into gas-fired power plants.

"There is something going on that is causing us to not get our gas out of West Virginia," he said. "We need pipelines, and the government is slow-walking the process."

McKinley said the administration has failed to enforce the Pipeline Safety Bill which was passed in 2011 but still has largely not been implemented. In the meantime, the nation and West Virginia in particular have seen multiple accidents in transporting oil and gas, all of which have eroded public confidence.

"I don't want to lose the confidence of the American public that we can address these issues," he said. "Gas is getting a black eye in the public. People are losing confidence in gas and our infrastructure."

But McKinley said if you travel through areas where natural gas pipelines are being discussed, you'll see signs dotting yards and roadsides decrying those plans.

"I don't want people thinking gas pipelines are unsafe," he said. "We should make them safe."

McKinley said officials must work to diversify West Virginia's economy. Though coal built the state, the industry has seen a steady decline in recent years, and has lost much of the industrial business which relied on coal.

Now officials are scrambling to find business and job opportunities for residents, resulting in a shrinking economy, lower employment, and an exodus from the state.

"We became very dependent on the coal industry. We didn't diversify," he said.

McKinley said the state needs to find more opportunities for research and technology, helping West Virginia's universities and hospitals find more funding for programs.

McKinley said while nationally there is some $300 billion in research funds available, West Virginia receives only about $160 million.

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