To the Editor:

Coal has played an enormous role in the history of our country, and the infamous black rock remains a primary source of energy. Lighting homes, powering factories, and influencing economic and environmental decision-making, coal can be found (in many ways, shapes and forms) at the heart of the American story. But coal is complicated.

Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining (MTR) is the most violent and disruptive form of mining to date — and a great deal of our energy is obtained in this way. MTR involves blasting the summit from the mountain and then bulldozing debris (including timber, rock, and mining chemicals) into neighboring valleys. This process buries pristine headwater streams, leads to mudslides and severe flooding, and permanently destroys an ecosystem that’s biodiversity has been compared to that of the rain forest. Furthermore, coal contributes significantly to climate change.

Coal miners are also struggling greatly. Easily accessible coal is a thing of the past, and modern-day coal mining is highly mechanized — meaning far fewer jobs for people in coal country. We must remember these coal-mining communities, and the women and men who have dedicated their lives to America’s energy supply, as we transition to clean and renewable energy. We must respect them and work toward a just transition in which the people of Appalachia are valued and given jobs in sustainable industries. We must work for economic diversification. Appalachia has been forgotten for too long, and we have much to learn.

“From the Ashes,” a documentary dealing with the complexities of the coal industry and the importance of these many narratives, will be showing at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva on Thursday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. The film is a Tribeca Film Festival official selection for 2017 and has been called “Heartbreaking and enlightening at the same time. A must-watch for everyone because we should all be in this together …” by former Secretary of State John Kerry.  Please join the Creation Care Alliance of WNC and MountainTrue as we engage in this important dialogue.

Sarah Ogletree

Sylva