In morning testimony before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US President Barack Obama’s hand-picked environmental officials said coal would have a future despite the pending pollution regulation.

When asked by Michigan Democrat representative John Dingell whether either saw coal in the future of energy production, even with the coming regulations, both said yes.

However, as they said, that future might be different to today.

“The rule will provide certainty for the future of new coal moving forward, and in terms of existing facilities, coal will continue to represent a significant source of energy for decades to come,” McCarthy said, though she did not elaborate on her point.

In a line of questioning by coal advocate Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, McCarthy was pressed for more details of Obama’s Climate Action Plan, or CAP, released in late June.

“Do you know specifically what plan is in effect?” Whitfield asked.

“He [Obama] talked about a specific plan to address the concerns of these people who lose their jobs.”

McCarthy told the congressman and subcommittee chair that she did not have details of the plan, but could say that both she and her agency were “sensitive to the economic consequences of our actions”

Moniz echoed the promise for a “different” future for coal.

“The DOE has issued a draft solicitation for $8 billion in loan guarantees for advanced fossil energy technologies that reduce carbon emissions,” he said.

“In addition, the DOE has already committed $6 billion on clean coal technologies. All with the goal of enabling the use of fossil fuel in a carbon constrained world.”

Coal supporters have been biting their nails anxiously for more details of Obama’s plans for coal and coal-fired generation, particularly since the release of CAP. The EPA is working to meet the President’s first deadline on Friday to present revised outlines on carbon pollution that could once again change the industry.

Many feel the coming plans will create restrictions so tight on the industry that future coal-fired facilities will be next to impossible to build. Regulations for existing plants are due next June, adding to the tension.

Moniz called climate change progress a long-term commitment, noting action had to come soon.

“[W]e have to act in this decade, because the CO2 problem is cumulative and every ton we emit you can check it off against our children and grandchildren,” he said.

In written testimony released early Wednesday, McCarthy called climate change “one of the greatest challenges of our time”

“Based on the evidence, more than 97% of climate scientists are convinced that human-caused climate change is occurring,” she said.

“If our changing climate goes unchecked, it will have devastating impacts on the United States and the planet.

“Reducing carbon pollution is critically important to the protection of Americans’ health and the environment upon which our economy depends.”

In response to the testimony, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity official Laura Sheehan said Americans had to be reminded of coal’s importance in the face of the regulations that could once again change the face of the industry.

“According to the federal government's own projections, coal will be our largest source of electrical generation through 2040, providing affordable and reliable electricity to American businesses and families,” she said.

“Yet, the administration continues to speak out of both sides of its mouth.”

She said McCarthy asked the public earlier this summer in her first speech to “stop talking about environmental regulations killing jobs”

“[T]he people of the coal-based electricity industry would like to assure administrator McCarthy the job losses are very real to the families, businesses and communities that benefit from coal,” Sheehan said.

“Administrator McCarthy says 'we can and must embrace cutting carbon pollution as a spark for business innovation, job creation, clean energy and broad economic growth’. The EPA's actions will do exactly the opposite.

“The reality is that the new EPA regulations will stop all new coal plants from being built and end development of new CCS technology in America.”