Coal: Fuel for Economic Growth
Coal is the cornerstone of electricity generation in America, supplying nearly half of the nation’s electricity. Like American consumers, Alliance is committed to coal because it serves as a reliable and affordable source of energy and because it provides the fuel for America’s economic growth.
Coal is consistently the most affordable fossil fuel and significantly cheaper than alternative sources of energy. As a result, states that rely more heavily on coal typically provide their citizens with a lower retail price for electricity.
Coal is abundant. The United States has been called the Saudi Arabia of coal.Coal represents approximately 94% of the fossil fuel reserves in the United States with enough supply to last for 235 years at current use rates.
Coal is domestic. Coal is located in a number of regions throughout the United States. Because coal is produced in the United States, coal use promotes energy independence.
Coal creates quality jobs. The coal industry provides approximately 134,000 direct jobs and 600,000 indirect jobs in America.Further, the average annual wage for a coal miner is over $72,000, which is 59% higher than the average wage for all workers in the United States. Thus, coal not only provides America with affordable energy, but also with high-paying jobs.
Worldwide demand for coal is increasing. Coal is the world’s fastest growing fuel, and the International Energy Agency expects this growth to continue – predicting coal demand will increase 53% by 2030. China and India are a major part of this increased demand, relying heavily on coal to fuel their economic growth and, in turn, to provide their citizens with a better quality of life.
The United States continues to build new coal-fired power plants. Currently, there are 25 coal fired power plants under construction across the United States, which will be capable of generating almost 15 Gigawatts of electricity capacity.
America's energy future is filled with potential, and coal is at the very core of both this potential and the nation itself.
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