Without Donald Trump not more, were it my company says Doug Miller. He sinks into his office chair, at the wooden wall behind him, the Truck hanging images: motifs from the wall of the past years ‘ calendars. The 66-Year-old – short gray hair, tired eyes – is Controller by the transport company “Barron Trucking”. The site is located near Somerset, deep in the West of the US state of Pennsylvania. Three white Trucks Parking in front of the corrugated iron hall. Transporting coal from mines to coal wash.
The Obama administration had imposed on the coal industry with strict rules, the carbon dioxide emissions to slow down. “We were almost done,” recalls Miller. Trump loosened the rules again. Doug Miller has chosen him, “of course,” he says – and would do that again at any time. “The President is trying to protect its people.”
only he does not see in the area.
coal has a great importance in Trumps policy. It has fuelled the election campaign. Now she heats up the tempers. Return the Golden times for the black Rock? In Somerset and the surrounding district America, as of the pickaxe divided. The belief in the future of coal, others hope for Alternatives.
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Somerset County: 75 000 inhabitants, the gateway to the Midwest, the American heartland. “Farmers, miners and truck drivers,” says Miller. 75.9 percent of the electorate voted for Trump. The support for the Republicans here was always great.
The first new Mine in trump’s office
In the centre, the centre Avenue or Pennsylvania Route 601, stands the bronze figure of a miner. Outside determine grain silos, cow Pastures and tractors in the countryside, excavators, and workshops. Signs warn of blasting and house auctions.
Twice, the district obtained across the country attention. For the first Time years back. In the summer of 2002, nine buddy for 77 hours were trapped 70 metres below ground; water had flooded a manhole and brought down. The dramatic action to your rescue as the “miracle of Quecreek.” Where the buddy by Dahlduschbombe, a rescue capsule that rose from the ground, stands today a monument.
Recently, the attention focused again on Somerset. Because on 8. June 2017 to made here is a colliery – it was the first new coal mine in Donald Trumps office. The President sold the opening as a confirmation of his policy. “We bring the miners back to work,” they said in a video message. He will fight “for all the forgotten men and women”. The Acosta Mine is a Signal for “a new Chapter in America’s long, proud Tradition of coal mining”.
Trump wants to end the “war on coal”, the war against coal, the predecessor of Barack Obama and the Democrats, according to the President have started. “The war against coal destroys Jobs,” said Trump in the election campaign, “making us energy dependent on our enemies and creates a great business disadvantage.”
in the World want to put the brakes 184 States climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. In Germany, has Recently closed the last coal mine, the phasing out of coal power is underway. Trump, by contrast, the exit from the Paris climate agreement. Election promises. America first.
“Trump has done a wonderful thing for the coal industry”
In Somerset, you will thus have to consent such as in Seams in the ground. That Hillary Clinton announced during the election campaign, she will work for energy alternatives, the business of the miners ‘ exit was not in the area at all well.
“Trump has done a wonderful thing for the coal industry,” says Doug Miller. His company is half-way between Somerset and the Acosta Mine. The exit from the climate agreement, he is in favour of. Miller can’t understand why the US should be strict rules to follow, but other countries did not. In China, for example, would be more blown pollutants in the air, and there was “no magic wand, which limits the scale of the air pollution”. The USA stop them the burden to others, he says. “The pollute – what is this?” At all, says Miller, “nobody has proved that there is global warming really”.
The climate debate, as well as investigations against Trump in the Russia affair, or controversial personnel decisions, a topic that seems far away for most in Somerset. Very close, however, the notices to staff search in shop Windows, or the construction worker, and finally the old bridge on Center Avenue, between the Starbucks and Interstate 76, renew. Proof for Doug Miller that their Concerns and desires are in the first place.
almost three percent of the US economy is not grown in the past year, the number of unemployed, the lowest since half a century. Miller likes that “people can find easier Jobs”. “What’s wrong, to bring the country back to work?”, he asks and expects no response. 45 the driver has to be operating, plus 25 temporary workers. Additional employees will be sought, he said. Finally, the business is growing again, “and it will continue to grow,” he believes.
A tradition industry, a variety of additional images to display 1 of 14Foto: Oliver Bilger24.03.2019 17:03the mining began in Pennsylvania in the late 17th century. Century. The blast furnaces in Pittsburgh
The President is not swallowed up almost every day…Back to More known to promote the truth revealed
Carl Walker Metzgar finds that his country had disabled a long time even, to many of the requirements in environmental protection would have hampered the competition. The Republican district representative is wearing a red plaid shirt and Jeans, sits behind the paper mountains that are stacked on his Desk, and would not like to be misunderstood. No one, says the young politician, wool pollute the environment: “Who lives here, not ruined his home.” Under the soil of Pennsylvania is rich in raw materials, rich in forests, meadows, rivers and lakes. A Paradise for Hiking, Biking, Rafting or skiing.
Metzgar also expects additional jobs and revenue. The opening of the Acosta Mine is a “tremendous development”. “More mines will open up.” And each Job there are other jobs to move to, first of all, in related industries, such as fuel suppliers, machinery manufacturers, cement producers, in the wood industry, and transport companies. Then shops for clothes and furniture, super markets, Restaurants followed.
in fact, coal production has increased in Somerset and other regions of the least profitable. It satisfies the growing needs of steel companies in China and India. 15, 20 years, the new Mine can perhaps work.
But Trump is not known to promote the truth to light. What he failed to mention: At the Acosta Mine is not an achievement of his policy. On The Contrary. The bill was long-planned, three months before the presidential election, they had received the final approvals. In addition, only 100 workers were in the first year of a new Job, less than in other mines.
The Republicans Metzgar, this is not the Faith that Trump will continue the Tradition. “For 100 years, Somerset is a coal-district,” says the 37-Year-old and a “turning point” for the industry expected, “perhaps even a Renaissance”.
The enthusiasm for the carbon adjacent sometimes to religious devotion. The industry has accompanied the rise of the USA like no other. In almost every family, to tell the people, miners or workers in adjacent industries. A buddy earned a quick $ 100,000 and more a year – a salary three times as high as the average income. Coal is the life of the people, for generations.
mining began in the so-called Rust Belt, the rust belt, home of the US heavy industry, already in the late 17th century. Century. The blast furnaces in Pittsburgh devoured soon every day hundreds of tons of coal from the Appalachian mountains. The Expansion of the railway led to a Boom in the Region.
Long is the black heart of America beat here. Now it is become weak.
New life for an old industrial
The decline began decades ago, as the heavy industry to cheaper countries migrated. Also combustion of coal to electricity and energy production lost its importance. To 20 percent the share of green electricity in the USA has grown in the past year. The consequences for the once-glorious industry are everywhere to visit in the area. Abandoned houses with empty Windows, closed shops, railroad tracks to nowhere, because no coal cars to more. Stainless Industrial Ruins.
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