Support the coal rally on Oct. 23

By JOHN SERFUSTINI

Organizers of the planned Coal and Other Fossil Fuels Rally are hoping to draw as many as 6,000 participants to the Carbon County Events Center on Oct. 23. While it is not a march on Washington, local supporters of the fuel industries hope that their message gets through to federal policy makers: that proposed environmental rules could ruin energy-based economies. The rally is intended to make people aware of the coal, oil and natural gas industries point of view in the debate over environmental regulation. At stake, the energy producers contend, are thousands of jobs, electricity costs and quality of life in energy-dependent communities. “It is not only about dollars and cents,” said Karra Hillam, manager of the Southeastern Utah Energy Producers Association “we are talking about the heritage of our community.”
Backed by funds from the county’s Restaurant and Transient Room tax funds, the committee, travel and tourism interests and the economic development department have been promoting the event across mining communities in seven western states and all of eastern Utah’s counties.
They also want Wasatch Front citizens and government leaders to attend.
Hillam said the proposed rules will affect more than those who work directly in the mines. Small businesses that serve energy producers are likely to be affected, while higher energy costs will impact lower income households, she asserted. The keynote speaker for the evening will be Alex Epstein, industry advocate and author of “Fossil Fuels Improve the Planet.” Chad Booth, host and executive producer of “At Your Leisure” and “County Seat” will be the announcer.
The band Kahuna Beach Party will provide entertainment. There will be hands-on activities for children, as well as an abandoned mine spook alley hosted by USU Eastern students. Hillam said that the first 3,000 people admitted will get a free dinner. Admission is free and everyone is invited, she added.
The event begins at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m.