Tennessee: We’ll Take Tourism Over Blowing Up Our Mountains

Tennessee has effectively told coal miners boycotting the state because of its anti-mountaintop removal stance not to let the door hit their asses on the way out. The coal industry had its panties in a wad because Tennessee lawmakers supported legislation that would protect the state’s beautiful mountains from being destroyed, and asked its employees not to vacation there in protest.

Ultimately, limited tourism dollars from mining industry employees don’t stack up against the revenue generated by visitors who come to see the state’s mountains. In fact, the mining industry isn’t worth going to any trouble over at all.

NRDC rounded up some facts:

There are fewer than 6,000 miners in Tennessee whereas the tourism industry employs more than 177,000

Tennessee’s tourism contributes roughly $14 billion to the state’s economy every year

Kentucky spends an estimated $115 million more public money to support and subsidize the coal industry than it receives in state revenues from the industry

The coal industry actually ends up costing the Appalachian region roughly $42 billion (in terms of the value of premature deaths attributable to the mining industry across the coalfields)

The NRDC currently has a campaign urging senators all over America to pass the Appalachian Restoration Act, and end mountaintop removal mining – ask your state’s senators to vote yes on this important act. And better yet, show Tennessee how much you appreciate their bravery and stewardship with your own tourism dollars – the Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the nation’s most beautiful.

Link [NRDC]
Photo credit: Flickr user busymommy

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