Throughout “the lost decade,” West Virginia’s Congressional delegation largely joined in the “war on coal” rhetoric, and the narrative was one that both parties could enthusiastically join. Whether Republican or Democrat, the problem was the Obama administration’s “job-killing EPA.” Legislative efforts were directed at funding for “clean coal technology” – a mythical remedy – stripping the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of its regulatory authority to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and generally doing the bidding of the large coal companies.

The upper chamber, however, is worth a closer look. At the beginning of “the lost decade,” West Virginia was represented in the US Senate by Robert C. Byrd and John Davison “Jay” Rockefeller IV, both of whom seemed to have a change of heart regarding their loyalty to the coal industry once they were in a position where they didn’t have to face the voters again.