Now is not the time to kick coal to the curb.

Coal has been important in Pennsylvania for generations. Our state's economy relies heavily on the thousands of jobs it provides and the affordable energy it produces. The coal supply here is abundant and, as a result, we are one of the top coal-producing states.

Whether it is to sustain our economy through revenues and jobs, or to provide a cost-effective source of electricity generation, the people of Pennsylvania need coal.

But, if the Waxman-Markey Federal Climate Change Bill (House Resolution 2454, American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009) is passed in its current form, it will force our country to move away from coal as an energy source, costing thousands of jobs and increasing our monthly electricity bills.

A recent study by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) estimates that electricity costs in Pennsylvania will rise by up to 41 percent by 2030 if the Waxman-Markey Bill becomes law.

More than 50 percent of the electricity generated in our state is from coal. So, taking affordable coal out of our energy mix would have a noticeable impact on Pennsylvania household budgets.

It will be extremely difficult to replace coal with other electricity-producing sources, such as solar and wind, since these are intermittent sources and do not provide base load energy around the clock. While renewable sources can never measure up to coal in terms of predictability, they also are more expensive.

For example, it is costing $78 million for a Carbon County solar project to generate 10 megawatts, or enough power for about 1,450 homes, from 43,000 ground-mounted solar panels. It is costing $100 million or more to build 35 wind turbines on more than 4,000 acres in Somerset County, which will power just 16,000 homes.

NAM's study reveals that Pennsylvania's gross state product could lose up to $2.5 billion a year by 2020 and more than $20 billion annually by 2030 under the Waxman-Markey legislation. Additionally, the study estimates between 71,500 and 97,500 job losses in the commonwealth by the year 2030, primarily due to hikes in electric and other energy costs as a result of the bill's provisions.

We cannot afford such devastating job losses and other economic impacts.

Obviously, we also must be concerned about our environment. However, as coal use has increased, technological advances have allowed it to be processed more cleanly. From 1970 to 2009, coal power generation increased by 225 percent, while emissions of regulated pollutants decreased by 77 percent, although the public usually is not aware of this dramatic progress.

People should do their part to protect Pennsylvania's economy and to keep their electricity bills in check. They should contact U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Robert Casey and tell them to vote "no" on the Waxman-Markey Climate Change Bill.

For Pennsylvania's sake, we must have greater consumer protections and ensure that coal will be part of our state's energy future.

John M. Stilley is president of Amerikohl Mining, Inc.