CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.3

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

THIS CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 30, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and among CNX Gas Corporation, 5 Penn Center, West, Suite 401, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15276, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), CONSOL Energy, Inc., CNX Center, 1000 CONSOL Energy Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, 15317, a Delaware corporation (“CONSOL”), and              (the “Executive”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Executive is a senior executive of the Company and has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the short- and long-term profitability, growth and financial strength of the Company and CONSOL; and

WHEREAS, the Board (as defined below) and the board of directors of CONSOL (the “CONSOL Board”) recognize that the possibility of a Change in Control (as defined below) exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of key management personnel to the detriment of the Company, CONSOL and their respective stockholders; and

WHEREAS, the Board and the CONSOL Board have determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management, including the Executive, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in Control; and

WHEREAS, in consideration of the Executive’s continued employment with the Company and the Executive’s agreement to waive certain rights he may have to receive severance compensation and benefits under any applicable severance plan or policy, as set forth below, the Company and CONSOL desire to provide the Executive with certain compensation and benefits set forth in this Agreement in order to ameliorate the financial and career impact on the Executive in the event the Executive’s employment is terminated for a reason related to a Change in Control; and

WHEREAS, the Executive agrees to waive any rights he may have under any severance plan or policy in which the Executive is entitled to participate with respect to severance compensation and benefits in the event the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated as the result of an Involuntary Termination Associated With a Change in Control (as defined below).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company, CONSOL and the Executive agree as follows:

1. Certain Defined Terms . In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters:

(a) “Base Pay” means the greater of (i) the Executive’s annual base salary rate, exclusive of bonuses, commissions and other Incentive Pay, as in effect immediately preceding the Executive’s Termination Date, or (ii) the Executive’s annual base salary rate, exclusive of bonuses, commissions and other Incentive Pay, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.

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(b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. If the Executive is also a member of the Board, then in the case of any provision hereof that requires action by, or a determination of, the Board in connection with this Agreement, it is understood that such provision refers to the members of the Board other than the Executive.

(c) “Cause” means a determination by the Board that the Executive has committed any of the following acts:

(i) the Executive has been convicted of, or the Executive has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, (x) any felony, or (y) any misdemeanor involving fraud, embezzlement or theft; or

(ii) the Executive has wrongfully disclosed material confidential information of the Company, a Subsidiary, or CONSOL and/or its subsidiaries, has intentionally violated any material express provision of the Company’s code of conduct for executives and management employees (as in effect on the date of the Change in Control), or has intentionally failed or refused to perform any of his material assigned duties for the Company, and any such failure or refusal has been demonstrably and materially harmful to the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be deemed to have been terminated for “Cause” under this subsection (ii) unless and until there has been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than the majority of the members of the Board plus one member, finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive has committed an act constituting “Cause,” as herein defined, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Prior to any such determination, the Executive shall be provided with reasonable notice of such pending determination and the Executive, together with his counsel (if the Executive chooses to have counsel present at such meeting), shall be provided with the opportunity to be heard before the Board makes any such determination. Nothing herein will limit the right of the Executive or his beneficiaries to contest the validity or propriety of any such determination.

(d) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) the acquisition after the date hereof by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 25% of the combined voting

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power of the then outstanding Voting Stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 1(d)(i), the following acquisitions will not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any issuance of Voting Stock of the Company directly from the Company that is approved by the Incumbent Board (as defined in Section 1(d)(ii), below), (B) any acquisition by the Company and/or CONSOL and any of their respective subsidiaries of Voting Stock of the Company, (C) any acquisition of Voting Stock of the Company by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company, a Subsidiary, or CONSOL and/or its subsidiaries, (D) any acquisition of Voting Stock of the Company by an underwriter holding securities of the Company in connection with a public offering thereof, or (E) any acquisition of Voting Stock of the Company by any Person pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 1(d)(iii), below; or

(ii) other than at a time when CONSOL and/or its subsidiaries beneficially own more than 50% of the total Voting Stock of the Company, individuals who constitute the Board as of the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Board,” as modified by this Section 1(d)(ii)), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to such date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) will be deemed to have then been a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary thereof, a sale or other disposition (whether by sale, taxable or nontaxable exchange, formation of a joint venture or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or other transaction involving the Company (each, a “Business Combination”), unless, in each case, immediately following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no Person other than the Company and/or CONSOL and/or their respective subsidiaries beneficially owns 25% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or any direct or indirect parent

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corporation thereof (disregarding all “acquisitions” described in subsections (A) - (C) of Section 1(d)(i)), and (C) other than at a time when CONSOL and/or its subsidiaries beneficially own more than 50% of the total Voting Stock of the Company, at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination;

(iv) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 1(d)(iii); or

(v) other than at a time when CONSOL and/or it subsidiaries beneficially own less than 50% of the total Voting Stock of the Company, a Change in Control of CONSOL.

(e) “Change in Control of CONSOL” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) the acquisition after the date hereof by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 25% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock of CONSOL; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 1(e)(i), the following acquisitions will not constitute a Change in Control of CONSOL: (A) any issuance of Voting Stock of CONSOL directly from CONSOL that is approved by the Incumbent Board of CONSOL (as defined in Section 1(e)(ii), below), (B) any acquisition by CONSOL and/or its subsidiaries of Voting Stock of CONSOL, (C) any acquisition of Voting Stock of CONSOL by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by CONSOL and/or its subsidiaries, (D) any acquisition of Voting Stock of CONSOL by an underwriter holding securities of CONSOL in connection with a public offering thereof, or (E) any acquisition of Voting Stock of CONSOL by any Person pursuant to a Business Combination of CONSOL that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 1(e)(iii), below; or

(ii) individuals who constitute the CONSOL Board as of the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Board of CONSOL,” as modified by this Section 1(e)(ii)), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the CONSOL Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to such date whose election, or nomination for election by CONSOL’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board of CONSOL (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of CONSOL in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) will be deemed to have then been a member of the Incumbent Board of CONSOL, but excluding, for this purpose,

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any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the CONSOL Board; or

(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of CONSOL, a sale or other disposition (whether by sale, taxable or nontaxable exchange, formation of a joint venture or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of CONSOL, or other transaction involving CONSOL (each, a “Business Combination of CONSOL”), unless, in each case, immediately following such Business Combination of CONSOL, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of Voting Stock of CONSOL immediately prior to such Business Combination of CONSOL beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination of CONSOL or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns CONSOL or all or substantially all of CONSOL’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no Person other than CONSOL beneficially owns 25% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination of CONSOL or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof (disregarding all “acquisitions” described in subsections (A) - (C) of Section 1 (e) (i)), and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination of CONSOL or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof were members of the Incumbent Board of CONSOL at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the CONSOL Board providing for such Business Combination of CONSOL; or

(iv) approval by the stockholders of CONSOL of a complete liquidation or dissolution of CONSOL, except pursuant to a Business Combination of CONSOL that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 1(e)(iii).

(f) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(h) “Consultancy Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(d) hereof.

(i) “Constructive Termination Associated With a Change in Control” means the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company by the Executive as a result of the occurrence without the Executive’s written consent of one of the following events:

(i) a material adverse change in the Executive’s position with the Company and/or a Subsidiary (or any successor thereto by operation of law or otherwise) (but excluding any loss of any position with a Subsidiary with respect to which the Executive is not separately compensated) as compared to the Executive’s position with the Company (and/or a Subsidiary) immediately prior to the Change in Control;

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(ii) (A) a material reduction in the Executive’s annual base salary rate, exclusive of bonuses, commissions and other Incentive Pay, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; (B) a material reduction in the Executive’s Target Bonus opportunity in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; or (C) a material reduction in the level of Employee Benefits provided to the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control (excluding any reduction that is generally applicable to all or substantially all salaried Company employees);

(iii) a material adverse change in circumstances has occurred following a Change in Control, including, without limitation, a material change in the scope of the business or other activities for which the Executive was responsible immediately prior to the Change in Control, which has rendered the Executive unable to carry out, has materially hindered the Executive’s performance of, or has caused the Executive to suffer a material reduction in, any of the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties attached to the position held by the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control; a good faith determination by the Executive (that a material adverse change has occurred) will be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto unless otherwise shown by the Company to be not in good faith);

(iv) in connection with the liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company or transfer of all or substantially all of its business and/or assets, the Company breached this Agreement by not requiring the successor or successors (by liquidation, merger, consolidation, reorganization, transfer or otherwise) to which all or substantially all of its business and/or assets have been transferred (by operation of law or otherwise) to assume all duties and obligations of the Company under this Agreement pursuant to Section 14(a); or

(v) the relocation of the Executive’s principal work location (other than in connection with a relocation contemplated by the Company as of the date hereof or pursuant to organizational changes in accordance with past practice) to a location that increases the Executive’s normal work commute by fifty (50) miles or more as compared to the Executive’s normal work commute immediately prior to the Change in Control, or that the Executive’s required travel away from his office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or duties of his job is materially increased as compared to that which was required of the Executive in any of the three (3) full years immediately prior to the Change in Control.

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Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Executive shall have no right to terminate employment in a Constructive Termination Associated With a Change in Control in connection with an event described above unless (A) the Executive provides written notice to the Company within one (1) month of the occurrence of such event that identifies such event with particularity, (B) the Company fails to correct such event within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice from the Executive and (C) such termination must occur within sixty (60) days after the expiration of the failure of the Company to correct the event.

In no event shall the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company on account of the Executive’s death or Disability or because the Executive engaged in conduct constituting Cause be deemed to be a Constructive Termination Associated With a Change in Control.

(j) “Disability” means the Executive becomes permanently disabled within the meaning of, and begins actually to receive disability benefits pursuant to, the long-term disability plan in effect for, or applicable to, the Executive.

(k) “Employee Benefits” means the perquisites, benefits and service credit for benefits as provided under any and all employee retirement income and welfare benefit policies, plans, programs or arrangements in which the Executive is entitled to participate, including, without limitation, any stock option, performance share, performance unit, stock purchase, stock appreciation, savings, pension, supplemental executive retirement, or other retirement income or welfare benefit, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, group or other life, health, medical/hospital or other insurance (whether funded by actual insurance or self-insured), disability, salary continuation, expense reimbursement and other employee benefit policies that may exist as of a Change in Control or any successor policies, plans or arrangements that provide substantially similar perquisites or benefits.

(l) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(m) “Incentive Pay” means the greater of: (i) the Executive’s Target Bonus for which the Executive was eligible during the period that includes the Termination Date, or (ii) the average of the annual bonuses paid by the Company to the Executive for the three years prior to the year that includes the Termination Date. For purposes of this definition, “Target Bonus” means 100% of the amount established under the Company’s short-term incentive compensation program, if any, for the Executive, and any other annual bonus, applicable incentive, commission or other sales incentive compensation, or comparable incentive payment opportunity which, in the sole discretion of the Company, is deemed to constitute a Target Bonus, in addition to Base Pay, for which the Executive was eligible to receive, but did not receive prior to his Termination Date, in regard to services rendered in the year covered by the Executive’s Termination Date and which is to be made pursuant to any bonus, incentive, profit-sharing, performance, discretionary pay or similar agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement (whether or not funded) in which the Executive is eligible to participate. For purposes of this definition, “Incentive Pay” does not include any stock option, stock appreciation, stock purchase,

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restricted stock or similar plan, program, arrangement or grant, one time bonus or payment (including, but not limited to, any sign-on bonus), any amounts contributed by the Company for the benefit of the Executive to any qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan, whether or not provided under an arrangement described in the prior sentence, or any amounts designated by the parties as amounts other than Incentive Pay.

(n) “Involuntary Termination Associated With a Change in Control” means the termination of the Executive’s employment related to a Change in Control: (i) involuntarily by the Company (and any Subsidiary) for any reason other than Cause, the Executive’s death or the Executive’s Disability, or (ii) on account of a Constructive Termination Associated With a Change in Control.

(o) “Restricted Business” means any business function with a direct competitor of the Company that is substantially similar to the business function performed by the Executive with the Company immediately prior to his Termination Date.

(p) “Restricted Territory” means the counties, towns, cities or states of any country in which the Company operates or does business.

(q) “Subsidiary” means any Company controlled affiliate.

(r) “Termination Date” means the last day of the Executive’s employment with the Company (and any Subsidiary).

(s) “Termination of Employment” means, except as provided in the following sentence and subject to the provisions of Section 19(b), the termination of the Executive’s active employment relationship with the Company on account of an Involuntary Termination Associated With a Change in Control. For purposes of the non-solicitation provision of Section 10 of this Agreement, the term “Termination of Employment” shall mean the termination of the Executive’s employment relationship with the Company for any reason (or with CONSOL and/or its subsidiaries if the Executive is reemployed by CONSOL and/or its subsidiaries pursuant to Section 2(e)).

(t) “Voting Stock” means securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

2. Termination Associated With a Change in Control .

(a) Involuntary Termination Associated With a Change in Control . In the event the Executive’s employment is terminated after, or in connection with, a Change in Control, on account of (i) an Involuntary Termination Associated With a Change in Control within the two year period after the Change in Control, or (ii) an involuntary termination by the Company (other than for Cause, due to the Executive’s death or Disability) that (A) occurs not more than three (3) months prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs, or (B) is requested by a third party who initiates a Change in Control, the Executive shall be entitled to such benefits as provided under the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 2. For purposes of subsection 2(a)(ii)(B) above, to be

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eligible to receive amounts described in Section 2(b) below, a Change in Control must be consummated within the twelve (12) month period following the Executive’s Termination Date, except in circumstances pursuant to which the consummation of the Change in Control is delayed, through no failure of the Company or the third person, by a governmental or regulatory authority or agency with jurisdiction over the matter, or as a result of other similar circumstances where third party approval is necessary and is delayed. In such a circumstance, the remainder of the twelve (12) month period shall be tolled and shall recommence upon termination of the delaying event.

(b) Compensation and Benefits Upon Involuntary Termination Associated With a Change in Control . In the event a termination described in subsection (a) of this Section 2 occurs, and subject to the Executive’s compliance with the provisions of Section 4 hereof, the Company shall pay and provide to the Executive after his Termination Date:

(i) A lump sum cash payment equal to (A) two and one-half (2.5) times Base Pay, plus (B) two and one-half (2.5) times Incentive Pay.

(ii) The Executive shall receive a pro rated payment of his Incentive Pay for the year in which his Termination of Employment occurs. The pro rated payment shall be based on the Executive’s Incentive Pay as of the Executive’s Termination Date, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during which the Executive was employed by the Company in the year of his termination and the denominator of which is 365.

(iii) For the thirty (30) month period immediately following the Termination Date or, if later, the date of the Change in Control:

(1) If the Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage, the Executive shall continue to participate in all medical, dental and vision insurance plans he was participating in on the Termination Date, and the Company shall pay the applicable premium. During the applicable period of coverage described in the foregoing sentences, the Executive shall be entitled to benefits on substantially the same basis and cost as would have otherwise been provided had the Executive not separated from service. To the extent that such benefits are available under the above-referenced benefit plans and the Executive had such coverage immediately prior to the Termination Date, such continuation of benefits for the Executive shall also cover the Executive’s dependents for so long as the Executive is receiving benefits under this paragraph (iii). The COBRA Continuation Period for medical and dental insurance under this paragraph (iii) shall be deemed to run concurrent with the continuation period federally mandated by COBRA (generally eighteen (18) months), or any other legally mandated and applicable federal, state, or local coverage period for benefits provided to terminated employees under the health care plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “COBRA Continuation Period” shall mean the continuation period for medical and dental insurance to be provided under the terms of this Agreement which shall commence on the first day of the calendar month following the month in which the Termination Date falls and generally shall continue for an 18-month period.

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(2) Following the conclusion of the 18-month COBRA period described above, the Company will provide coverage as follows :

(A) If the relevant plan is self insured (within the meaning of Code Section 105(h)), and such plan permits coverage for the Executive, then the Company will continue to provide coverage under the plan for an additional twelve (12) months and will annually impute income to the Executive for the fair market value of the premium.

(B) If, however, any such plan does not permit the continued participation following the end of the COBRA Continuation Period as contemplated above, then the Company will reimburse the Executive for the actual cost to the Executive of any individual health insurance policy obtained by Employee in accordance with the procedures set forth in subsection (iv) below.

(iv) If the Executive would have been eligible for post-retirement medical and dental coverage had he retired from employment during the period of thirty (30) months following his Termination Date, but is not so eligible as a result of his termination, then, at the conclusion of the benefit continuation period described in (iii) above, the Company shall take all commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Executive with additional continued group medical and dental coverage comparable to that which would have been available to him from time to time under the Company’s post-retirement medical and dental benefit program, for as long as such coverage would have been available under such program. It is specifically acknowledged by the Executive that if such coverage is provided under a Company sponsored self-insured plan, it will be provided on an after-tax basis and the Executive will have income imputed to him annually equal to the fair market value of the premium. If this coverage cannot be provided by the Company, (or where such continuation would adversely affect the tax status of the plan pursuant to which the coverage is provided), then as an alternative, the Company will reimburse the Executive in lieu of such coverage an amount equal to the Executive’s actual and reasonable after-tax cost of continuing comparable coverage.

Reimbursement to the Executive pursuant to subsections (iii) or (iv) above will be available only to the extent that (1) such expense is actually incurred for any particular calendar year and reasonably substantiated; (2) reimbursement shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year following the year in which such expense is incurred by the Executive; (3) no reimbursement provided for any expense incurred in one taxable year will affect the amount available in another taxable year; and (4) the right to this reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, under subsection (iii) no reimbursement will be provided for any expense incurred following the additional twelve (12) months or for any expense which relates to coverage after such date.

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(v) A lump sum cash payment equal to the total amount that the Executive would have received under the Company’s 401(k) plan as a Company match if the Executive was eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan for the thirty (30) month period after his Termination Date and he contributed the maximum amount to the plan for the match. Such amount shall be determined based on the assumption that the Executive would have received annual Base Pay plus Incentive Pay during such period in the amounts set forth in Sections 2(b)(i) and (ii) above.

(vi) A lump sum cash payment equal to the difference between the present value of the Executive’s accrued pension benefits at his Termination Date under the Company’s qualified defined benefit plan and (if eligible) its pension restoration plan (together, the “pension plans”) and the present value of the accrued pension benefits to which the Executive would have been entitled under the pension plans if the Executive had continued participation in those plans for the thirty (30) month period after his Termination Date. Such amount shall be determined based on the assumption that the Executive would have received annual Base Pay plus Incentive Pay during such period in the amounts set forth in Sections 2(b)(i) and (ii) above.

(vii) A lump sum cash payment of $25,000 in order to cover the cost of outplacement assistance services for the Executive and other expenses associated with seeking another employment position.

(viii) The Executive shall receive any amounts earned, accrued or owing but not yet paid to the Executive as of his Termination Date, payable in a lum