As the green movement gains traction in the state, House members and lobbyists Wednesday announced the revival of a long-standing caucus aimed at defending and promoting the coal industry.

The Coal Caucus is a 68-member bipartisan effort spearheaded by Reps. R. Ted Harhai, D-Monessen, and Jeffrey P. Pyle, R-Ford City, in conjunction with two advocacy groups, the Pennsylvania Coal Association and Families Organized to Represent the Coal Economy.

"Our function is mostly education," Mr. Pyle said. "Let's talk about coal, the jobs that it provides and the electricity it makes."

A report prepared by the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania said the state's coal industry creates 41,000 jobs.

"We have roughly 9,000 men underground, and for every one of them underground, there are bunch more on top of the ground," Mr. Pyle said.

The caucus was formed in the early 1980s but fell by the wayside over the years. The group was brought back in part to defend the industry from challenges raised by environmental concerns.

One of those challenges is House Bill 2405, which would nearly double the amount of renewable energy purchased by utilities in the state, from 8 percent to 15 percent by 2020.

Mr. Pyle said the caucus opposed the bill, because it could cause job loss in the coal sector, as well as raise electricity prices.

"We have a lot riding on 2405, especially the jobs" Mr. Pyle said. "It's doubtless it will drive the cost up for everyone."

Jeff Schmidt, president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club, said this version of the bill included provisions for carbon sequestration and carbon capture capabilities that were designed to appeal to the coal industry.

Still, "We need to slowly ween ourselves off of fossil fuels, including coal," Mr. Schmidt said.

First Published: June 17, 2010, 4:00 a.m.