Coal news and updates

Coal consumption declining in U.S., China, website reports

Coal consumption in the U.S., China and India is declining, suggesting that nations around the world may be turning to alternative sources of energy, Slate reports. Developing nations, such as China, are becoming less tolerant of air pollution generated by the amount of coal burned to create electricity.

Slate said coal use in China fell in 2014, and the nation has promised to slash consumption by 160 million tons over the next five years. Meanwhile India doubled a tax on coal, with revenues designated for clean energy projects, the website said.

In the U.S., layoffs at coal mines have been reported as the demand lags, Slate said. The use of coal in electricity production dropped 10 percent over the past decade, in part due to the expense associated with more stringent federal regulations, the website said.

source: http://www.nola.com