During a tour around southeastern Kentucky on Tuesday, Gov. Steve Beshear promised that help is on the way to the coalfields.

Beshear visited Martin, Pike and Harlan counties, praising the work miners are doing and reassuring them he is on their side. Beshear announced during his visit to Portal 31 that Kentucky would be hiring 34 new state employees to help keep coal mining moving forward and meet requirements for state inspections.

“In this economic downturn, when other businesses grind to a near halt, our miners keep digging,” said Beshear. “They keep digging because our country needs power to our homes, to cook our food and to keep our factories running.”

Beshear said he understood delays in the permit process hurt both the coal company and the miners. So, in an effort to help speed along the state’s mining permit process, an additional 19 permit reviewers are scheduled to be hired. Beshear said by hiring these extra reviewers the state could help keep the mine operators running without any type of large delay.

Beshear said for years Kentucky had the model mine safety rescue team but due to a lawsuit, settled earlier this year, the government stepped in placing new restrictions and limitations. Many larger companies could afford to have their own mine rescue team but it meant several of the smaller mines would have to close because they would not be able to afford to field and supply them. Beshear said he would be hiring 15 mine inspectors, who will also serve on the state’s mine rescue teams, making it possible for the smaller mines to remain open.

“Falling state revenues and huge cuts in spending have at times restricted our efforts in the state government to help keep our miners keep doing their jobs and do so in the safest possible work environment,” Beshear said.

Beshear said not only did coal help keep the lights on, but he felt it was also a valuable asset to the nation as an energy source. Beshear said the Kentucky government would be investing and funding research into several different coal energy projects.

One such project, Beshear said, would help decrease the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. Beshear explained research is being done into the study of turning coal into a liquid energy source. Recently $5 million was awarded to the University of Kentucky to help fund research into this new energy producing process.

The other project Beshear felt would help generate new revenue would be turning coal into a form of natural gas, and he hopes by 2025 Kentucky would produce 100 percent of its own natural gas this way.

During his speech at Portal 31, Beshear said he had signed a proclamation declaring November as Coal Appreciation Month. Beshear said he hopes this will help Kentuckians realize what a vital part the coal miner plays to not only the state but to their community as well.

Before taking a tour of the new Portal 31, Beshear took questions and comments from the large crowd of coal supporters. One concerned miner said he would like to see more coal severance funds spent in the coal fields and not in the larger cities of the state. The miner said the region’s children would love to have parks and new playground equipment just like the children in Lexington.

Beshear said he understood the concern and efforts for more coal severance funds coming back into the coal field areas were being reviewed. Beshear said one way more revenue could soon be generated would be in the building and operation of the new coal to liquid and natural gas plants.

Beshear said the cost of shipping coal across the state to these facilities would not be very economical, instead several of these new plants would be built in coal abundant areas of southeastern and eastern Kentucky.

Beshear offered thanks and support to all of those in attendance and told them he was going to start taking this fight to the doors in Washington.