PITTSBURGH—Former Pittsburgh-area state Sen. John Pippy's new job will be heading a group that advocates for the coal industry.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ( http://bit.ly/MRaf5B) reports Monday that Pippy has confirmed he'll be the chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance. The group is scheduled to make an announcement later Monday in Pittsburgh.

The 41-year-old former lawmaker says his job will be "telling the positive story of coal."

The coal group was formed when the Pennsylvania Coal Association merged with FORCE, Families Organizes to Represent the Coal Economy.

Pippy was a Republican state senator from Moon Township from 2003 until he resigned June 30, shortly after he voted for the new state budget.

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Information from: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, http://pghtrib.com