Don Blankenship Extends Debate Invitation to Dr. James Hansen

Global Warming Bill Would Kill Jobs, Slow Economy

CHARLESTON, W.V., June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, June 19th,
2009, Massey Energy Chairman and CEO Don L. Blankenship invited Dr. James
Hansen to participate in an open discussion about global warming and the
economy in West Virginia. While Dr. Hansen was unable to fit a public debate
into his schedule this week, Mr. Blankenship has extended the invitation and
issued the following statement:

"A week ago today, I issued an invitation to Dr. James Hansen to join me in a
public discussion about global warming and America's economy. I made the
invitation upon learning that Dr. Hansen, a Hollywood actress and an
environmental activist from San Francisco were traveling to West Virginia to
protest coal mines, which provide low cost energy to millions of Americans and
thousands of jobs in Appalachia. A local television station offered to air the
event live on Thursday, June 25th, but Dr. Hansen was unwilling to fit the
open debate into his schedule.

"Politicians in Washington, DC are threatening to pass Cap & Trade
legislation, which will cap our economy and trade away our jobs overseas in
the name of global warming. The people of West Virginia deserve a vigorous
discussion about how this bill will harm our economy and cost jobs.
Environmental propaganda, masquerading as science and preached by people like
Al Gore, threatens to destroy our way of life in America.

"Prosperity in America cannot occur without production and hard work. As a
native West Virginian, I know how hard the people of this state work to care
for their families. However, out of state activists like Dr. Hansen, who want
to close coal mines, would kill production in America and bring any hope of an
economic recovery to a screeching halt - all in the name of global warming.

"My invitation to Dr. Hansen remains open. I realize he has a busy schedule,
protesting and fighting to shut down coal mines throughout America, but I will
gladly work with him to find a mutually agreeable time and location so that as
many American workers as possible can hear the truth about global warming."

SOURCE Massey Energy

Matt Lauer, +1-202-448-3127, for Massey Energy