It could mean hundreds of new jobs for folks in one Eastern Kentucky county.

Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says he just got back to Eastern Kentucky from Knoxville where he says he met with Sun-Coke officials to talk about the possibility of bringing a coal coke plant to Eastern Kentucky.

The mountains are full of metallurgical coal a more pure, harder type of coal with higher BTU levels. Pike County officials hope that will bring a new coal coke energy to the region. Rutherford says a new facility would bring a boost to the coal industry but more importantly, the prospect of new jobs to Eastern Kentucky.

"A plant like that in the coal industry itself, not in the coke process but in the coal industry itself, would bring hundreds of jobs and it would bring stability," Rutherford said.

Pike County officials say metallurgical coal is more efficient that other types and it used to produce steel.

Sun-Coke Energy is owned by Sunoco. Their spokesperson, Thomas Golembeski, says the company does not comment on any development projects. He did say quote, "Sun Coke Energy is always looking for new opportunities to grow it's business".

People we talked to say they would welcome the new plant for the number of jobs it would bring and for the environmental benefits.

"It somewhat makes it a cleaner source of coal use and that is definitely on the plus column on my page," said Evan Justice.

"We think the time is right. We have been real busy. We have a lot of miles under our belt," said Rutherford said.

Pike County officials say they are finishing up a coal to liquid fuel plant study for the county and hope to bring a new plant to the region soon.