MINNEAPOLIS – The Republican Party of Kentucky’s Tuesday morning delegation breakfast featured appearances and brief remarks from two representatives of the coal industry, a major economic player in Kentucky and a source of controversy for many who say the industry damages the environment.

Representatives from Arch Coal and Alliance Coal were among those who spoke, greeted delegates, and handed out information to attendees on Tuesday.

Rusty Ashcraft, who works on lobbying efforts and environmental affairs for Alliance, said representatives from the industry attended both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and passed out information to delegates.

The coal industry has been under heat from some activists who oppose mining practices such as mountaintop removal, arguing they permanantly damage rural mountain communities and pollute the surrounding environment.

Ashcraft said he and his associates in the industry were pushing to alter that impression with their appearances at the conventions.

“There is so much disinformation out there,” Ashcraft said. “This is an opportunity to basically provide additional information about our industry on safety and the environment. And to basically remind people that coal is not going to go anywhere.”

Ashcraft said he saw coal playing a role in the future of American energy policy, particularly as energy costs rise. He argued the coal industry favored the development of renewable energy, but he said he was concerned about whether such technology would be sufficient to meet the nation’s needs.

Ashcraft also said the economic impact of limiting coal production could result in American jobs moving overseas.

The coal industry has undeniably had a presence at both conventions. In Denver for the Democratic incarnation, employees of the coal industry distributed information to delegates and visitors as they roamed the streets and sidewalks of the area around the convention center.

Ashcraft said the purpose of the morning visit with the Kentucky delegation was solely “an opportunity to provide information” to interested parties.

Still, coal companies get politically involved in other ways. The coal industry – and energy interests in general – are frequent contributors to campaign coffers. Arch Coal’s political action committee has been a donor to candidates on both sides of the aisle, according to records available at Opensecrets.org.

In this year alone, Arch had contributed to most of Kentucky’s Republican Congressional delegation, including U.S. Reps. Geoff Davis (R-Hebron), Ed Whitfield (R-Hopkinsville), Hal Rogers (R-Somerset), and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville). 3rd Congressional District candidate Anne Northup (R-Louisville) also received money from Arch this year.

Thirty-five percent of Arch’s contributions this year went to Democrats, including U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner, of Virginia.