License plate billboards

I saw one of these plates the other day, on a big-ass SUV. Seemed appropriate. As black seemed the appropriate color.

Guess we know where our government stands on this one. And possibly our people too:

HAZARD � The coal industry in Kentucky has received a new billboard in the form of a license plate that was unveiled to the region last week.

The black plate with white lettering and the words �Coal keeps the lights on� as well as the Friends of Coal logo has become a common sight on vehicles throughout Eastern Kentucky since they were first released in March, and they were unveiled to the region during a press conference in Hazard on Friday.

The press conference was broadcast live on several different media outlets as a way to get the word out about the new plates.

�This probably covered 20 plus counties. We wanted a lot of people to know,� Perry County Clerk and Coordinator of Coal Mining Our Future Haven King said. �This is one of the best advertisements we can have on a car whether it�s in Lexington, Louisville, Covington, Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, or Daytona Beach. I think is one of the best things we can have.�

. . .

Others who spoke, like Senator Tom Jensen from Laurel County and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, also talked about the need for other forms of energy while pointing out that coal would be needed as well to sustain the nation�s growing population and energy demand.

�People who are opposed to coal need to turn off their electricity because 95 percent of the electricity in our state is supplied by coal and coal miners and we appreciate that. It�s the cheapest energy we can get. I think you ought to look at hydro, wind, and solar, but you�re not going to replace coal,� Jensen said while Mongiardo pointed out that coal is a major contributor to the nation�s security.

�It�s extremely important to understand that the number one obligation of our federal government is national security and the only way to have a higher degree of national security is to have a higher degree of energy independence and that means use everything that�s ours, everything that�s American, and coal is American,� he said.

�We need to be looking at everything that will make us more energy independent because that will make us more secure in this country. That means wind, hydro, solar, and also the oil, gas, and coal,� Mongiardo continued.

Of course, this is also a state where you can get a Choose Life license plate, so the idea of neutrality is one we honor in the breach.

Mind you, I know this is far from a black and white issue, though the license plate might have one think otherwise. But the fact is that mountaintop removal coal “mining” doesn’t employ many miners. And it’s only cheap if you don’t count in the cost the total destruction of a unique natural habitat and the damage to our water supply.

I just want to know where I can get my “Stop Mountaintop Removal” plate.

Or for that matter, the one that says I Believe in the Right to Choose.

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Thanks for the link and the graphic go to Charlie Hughes.

Possibly related posts:

Unbridled Destruction

Coal

A coalminer’s son

Anne Shelby

Priorities

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