We forget burning coal releases a lot of really unhealthy pollutants into the atmosphere along with a lot of CO2. That explains China's $400 billion, 30-year deal with Russia to import natural gas from eastern Siberia.
I once toured the West Elk Mine, it is massive. Also very well managed, modern, and productive - sending coal to power plants across the nation to provide electricity for powering homes, businesses, and recharging Priuses.
It’s a shame none of the miners or others who understand the role coal plays in our energy economy were allowed to cast a vote for the only pro-coal presidential candidate, Donald J. Trump.
Better stay in hiding, Steve House. Mines are lonely dark places.
Another OBAMA success story. Miners now out of work.
There are several good isolated coal fields in the area far away from natural gas sources. Power plants were built in isolated areas to take advantage of the coal.
Bill Clinton turned others into new isolated “National Monuments” to keep power plants out of the area.