Coal news and updates

A new U.S. report says coal production in Wyoming, the nation’s top coal mining state, fell by 21% in 2020 from the previous year, caused in part by reduced demand during the coronavirus pandemic, low natural gas prices and a longstanding move away from fossil fuels to cheaper and cleaner-burning natural gas to generate electricity.

 

A U.S. Energy Information Industry Administration report this week also said the nation’s coal production in 2020 was at its lowest level since 1965, The Casper Star-Tribune reported Thursday.

 

Wyoming produced 41% of the nation’s coal in 2020, the EIA said.

 

Total U.S. coal production fell 24% in 2020 from 2019 and coal-fired power generation dropped by 20%. Coal exports were down 26%, the EIA said.

 

Production has increased to meet rising electricity demand as the economy reopens this year. The EIA estimates that U.S. coal production this year will be 15% higher than in 2020.

 

Travis Deti, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association, said coal still provides 20% to 23% of U.S. electricity supply. Many of some 572 coal industry jobs lost last year in Wyoming are returning, Deti said.

 

 

Source: https://buckrail.com/report-severe-drop-in-wyoming-us-coal-production-in