Economics, coal, and humans

[Old Rocks]

When there is a paradigm shift in any economic system, the largest impact is on those that do the actual work in the system. The ongoing switch from coal to natural gas, wind, and solar is having impact on families that have mined coal for generations. The cause of the switch is not government policies, but economics, natural gas is easier to turn on and off than coal, and now wind and solar are cheaper, even without subsidies.

But what of the human cost? Is this nation so poor that we cannot help these families to find a new way to make a living? There are about six million jobs going begging in the tech sector, millwrights, electricians, and automation. We should be supporting these men as they change from mining to a new trade. Educating them is far cheaper than supporting them and taking their pride for the rest of their lives.

When will one or other of the political parties face the reality, and not promise the impossible like resurgence of coal mining? Time for Americans to take care of Americans.

 

[TomParks]

Coal is coming back. Like it or not we will always need it

 

[BlackFlag]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

 

[TomParks]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

We have some mines that are going to open soon. It will not be like the past but any jobs are good for the local economy

 

[Old Rocks]

As the existing coal fired generators reach the stage that they have to be rebuilt, they will be replaced with gas, solar,or wind. And the grid scale batteries will make even the construction of new gas plants less likely. That is the future as I see it, barring the advent of cheap fusion.

 

[BULLDOG]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

We have some mines that are going to open soon. It will not be like the past but any jobs are good for the local economy

Sure, a few will open. Don't expect them to last too long.

 

[william the wie]

Coal is the cheapest energy going but it is expensive to ship.

 

[william the wie]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

We have some mines that are going to open soon. It will not be like the past but any jobs are good for the local economy

Sure, a few will open.Don't expect them to last too long.

With the blue and especially the highly green states exporting jobs to flyover country what is the reason for the trend you expect to see?

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

Energy is currently more expensive than necessary, mainly as a result of regulation brought about by the purveyors of wind and solar pipedreams who use that propaganda as a means to keep the economy down and socialist sloth on the dole.
The sooner coal is allowed to make a comeback the sooner our economy thrives.
Democrats suck and should not be allowed to vote.

 

[BlackFlag]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

Energy is currently more expensive than necessary, mainly as a result of regulation brought about by the purveyors of wind and solar pipedreams who use that propaganda as a means to keep the economy down and socialist sloth on the dole.
The sooner coal is allowed to make a comeback the sooner our economy thrives.
Democrats suck and should not be allowed to vote.

Ask the fracking industry how great cheap energy is

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

Energy is currently more expensive than necessary, mainly as a result of regulation brought about by the purveyors of wind and solar pipedreams who use that propaganda as a means to keep the economy down and socialist sloth on the dole.
The sooner coal is allowed to make a comeback the sooner our economy thrives.
Democrats suck and should not be allowed to vote.

Ask the fracking industry how great cheap energy is

Fracking would be moot and they'd all be thriving at other traditional extraction jobs if not for the democrat/socialist energy-stifling regulations.

 

[TomParks]

Somerset County, Pa. - Corsa Coal Corp. is opening the Acosta Deep underground mine in May. The opening of the new mine is expected to bring in 70 to 100 jobs.

Thursday, coal industry leaders met at the Somerset Country Club to talk about the industry and how President Trump's administration could bring more jobs back to the region.

The coal industry is looking to expand in Somerset County and new coal mine projects are underway, especially with the support expected to come from President Trump's administration.

Thursday, the White House is expected to ease current regulations on the coal industry.

"Had Trump not won the election, a lot of those people would have closed the door on investing in coal, which would be a tremendous pity not only for this region but for the country," said George Dethlefsen, CEO of Corsa Coal Corp.

"Well, in Pennsylvania, we are the third largest coal producing state in the nation. Coal is really kind of the heartbeat of a lot of our local economies and of the state," said Rachel Gleason, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance.

The Executive Director of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Ron Aldom, said people in Somerset County understand how the growth of the coal industry could affect the area.

"A lot of the people here today are in what I would call 'the indirect jobs': trucking, engineering companies, anyone who supports the industry. There are statements that one coal job, one mining job, produces four to five other jobs in the community, That's true. There's no question. It filters its way down," Aldom said.

At a luncheon to discuss the coal industry, leaders were optimistic about creating sustainable jobs and how they could help the entire community.

"Coal is such an important piece of our economy. Us producing coal at low cost helps consumers' energy bill. Makes your car ride cheaper, your plane ride cheaper, makes your utility bill cheaper. Those are all virtuous, noble goals that we're trying to do for this area," Dethlefsen said.

The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance said this year, they hope to reclaim two abandoned coal mines in the area.

Coal mines coming to Somerset County

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

Somerset County, Pa. - Corsa Coal Corp. is opening the Acosta Deep underground mine in May. The opening of the new mine is expected to bring in 70 to 100 jobs.

Thursday, coal industry leaders met at the Somerset Country Club to talk about the industry and how President Trump's administration could bring more jobs back to the region.

The coal industry is looking to expand in Somerset County and new coal mine projects are underway, especially with the support expected to come from President Trump's administration.

Thursday, the White House is expected to ease current regulations on the coal industry.

"Had Trump not won the election, a lot of those people would have closed the door on investing in coal, which would be a tremendous pity not only for this region but for the country," said George Dethlefsen, CEO of Corsa Coal Corp.

"Well, in Pennsylvania, we are the third largest coal producing state in the nation. Coal is really kind of the heartbeat of a lot of our local economies and of the state," said Rachel Gleason, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance.

The Executive Director of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Ron Aldom, said people in Somerset County understand how the growth of the coal industry could affect the area.

"A lot of the people here today are in what I would call 'the indirect jobs': trucking, engineering companies, anyone who supports the industry. There are statements that one coal job, one mining job, produces four to five other jobs in the community, That's true. There's no question. It filters its way down," Aldom said.

At a luncheon to discuss the coal industry, leaders were optimistic about creating sustainable jobs and how they could help the entire community.

"Coal is such an important piece of our economy. Us producing coal at low cost helps consumers' energy bill. Makes your car ride cheaper, your plane ride cheaper, makes your utility bill cheaper. Those are all virtuous, noble goals that we're trying to do for this area," Dethlefsen said.

The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance said this year, they hope to reclaim two abandoned coal mines in the area.

Coal mines coming to Somerset County

Good for them!

 

[TomParks]

Somerset County, Pa. - Corsa Coal Corp. is opening the Acosta Deep underground mine in May. The opening of the new mine is expected to bring in 70 to 100 jobs.

Thursday, coal industry leaders met at the Somerset Country Club to talk about the industry and how President Trump's administration could bring more jobs back to the region.

The coal industry is looking to expand in Somerset County and new coal mine projects are underway, especially with the support expected to come from President Trump's administration.

Thursday, the White House is expected to ease current regulations on the coal industry.

"Had Trump not won the election, a lot of those people would have closed the door on investing in coal, which would be a tremendous pity not only for this region but for the country," said George Dethlefsen, CEO of Corsa Coal Corp.

"Well, in Pennsylvania, we are the third largest coal producing state in the nation. Coal is really kind of the heartbeat of a lot of our local economies and of the state," said Rachel Gleason, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance.

The Executive Director of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Ron Aldom, said people in Somerset County understand how the growth of the coal industry could affect the area.

"A lot of the people here today are in what I would call 'the indirect jobs': trucking, engineering companies, anyone who supports the industry. There are statements that one coal job, one mining job, produces four to five other jobs in the community, That's true. There's no question. It filters its way down," Aldom said.

At a luncheon to discuss the coal industry, leaders were optimistic about creating sustainable jobs and how they could help the entire community.

"Coal is such an important piece of our economy. Us producing coal at low cost helps consumers' energy bill. Makes your car ride cheaper, your plane ride cheaper, makes your utility bill cheaper. Those are all virtuous, noble goals that we're trying to do for this area," Dethlefsen said.

The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance said this year, they hope to reclaim two abandoned coal mines in the area.

Coal mines coming to Somerset County

Good for them!

Same thing is happening in several states....the war on coal is over thankfully

 

[BULLDOG]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

Energy is currently more expensive than necessary, mainly as a result of regulation brought about by the purveyors of wind and solar pipedreams who use that propaganda as a means to keep the economy down and socialist sloth on the dole.
The sooner coal is allowed to make a comeback the sooner our economy thrives.
Democrats suck and should not be allowed to vote.

Ask the fracking industry how great cheap energy is

Fracking would be moot and they'd all be thriving at other traditional extraction jobs if not for the democrat/socialist energy-stifling regulations.

Really?Please explain.

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

Coal is coming back.

Unlikely. Energy is cheap and meeting demand with current declining coal output. Any coal comeback will come at the expense of other energy industries like natural gas and oil. Not gonna happen.

Energy is currently more expensive than necessary, mainly as a result of regulation brought about by the purveyors of wind and solar pipedreams who use that propaganda as a means to keep the economy down and socialist sloth on the dole.
The sooner coal is allowed to make a comeback the sooner our economy thrives.
Democrats suck and should not be allowed to vote.

Ask the fracking industry how great cheap energy is

Fracking would be moot and they'd all be thriving at other traditional extraction jobs if not for the democrat/socialist energy-stifling regulations.

Really?Please explain.

Why do you think OPEC opened their oil taps before colluding with other oil rich countries to reduce output? They wanted to make fracking cost-prohibitive.
If traditional drilling on restricted land and offshore had not been stifled by Obama, fracking would not even be necessary and OPEC, etc., would not have the leverage they currently still enjoy.

 

[Old Rocks]

Low Costs of Solar Power & Wind Power Crush Coal, Crush Nuclear, & Beat Natural Gas

And the cost of solar and wind are continuing to decline. As grid scale storage comes online, they will be even less costly. Neither wind or solar require rails or pipelines to them. Solar can be put on the vast expanse of warehouse, commercial, and industrial roofs. That would eliminate the transmission loss, and make many of our cities partially self powered.

 

[Old Rocks]

This may slow, but it will not reverse.

Behind the Bankruptcies
The U.S. coal industry is declining in the face of lower-cost natural gas, renewable energy and regulations designed to protect public health. Decades of mechanization have also reduced employment. This has spurred a wave of coal companies to declare bankruptcy, with Peabody being a recent example.

The industry’s woes are directly related to a drop in demand for its product. The Energy Information Administration estimates that coal production in 2016 declined by 158 million short tons from the previous year, an 18 percent drop from the year before, the lowest level of coal production since 1978. The coal production decline last year is the largest annual decline in terms of both tons and percentage since 1949. Below is a map of coal plant retirements in the U.S. from 2012 to 2016:

(EIA via SourceWatch)

Since its 2008 peak, coal production has been in steady decline, with total production in all major coal regions falling by at least 15 percent last year, as shown in the graphs below:

What’s Driving the Decline of Coal in the United States

 

[Old Rocks]

Somerset County, Pa. - Corsa Coal Corp. is opening the Acosta Deep underground mine in May. The opening of the new mine is expected to bring in 70 to 100 jobs.

Thursday, coal industry leaders met at the Somerset Country Club to talk about the industry and how President Trump's administration could bring more jobs back to the region.

The coal industry is looking to expand in Somerset County and new coal mine projects are underway, especially with the support expected to come from President Trump's administration.

Thursday, the White House is expected to ease current regulations on the coal industry.

"Had Trump not won the election, a lot of those people would have closed the door on investing in coal, which would be a tremendous pity not only for this region but for the country," said George Dethlefsen, CEO of Corsa Coal Corp.

"Well, in Pennsylvania, we are the third largest coal producing state in the nation. Coal is really kind of the heartbeat of a lot of our local economies and of the state," said Rachel Gleason, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance.

The Executive Director of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Ron Aldom, said people in Somerset County understand how the growth of the coal industry could affect the area.

"A lot of the people here today are in what I would call 'the indirect jobs': trucking, engineering companies, anyone who supports the industry. There are statements that one coal job, one mining job, produces four to five other jobs in the community, That's true. There's no question. It filters its way down," Aldom said.

At a luncheon to discuss the coal industry, leaders were optimistic about creating sustainable jobs and how they could help the entire community.

"Coal is such an important piece of our economy. Us producing coal at low cost helps consumers' energy bill. Makes your car ride cheaper, your plane ride cheaper, makes your utility bill cheaper. Those are all virtuous, noble goals that we're trying to do for this area," Dethlefsen said.

The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance said this year, they hope to reclaim two abandoned coal mines in the area.

Coal mines coming to Somerset County

Good for them!

Same thing is happening in several states....the war on coal is over thankfully

No war on coal. That is not what is bankrupting the coal companies. Cheap natural gas, and cheaper alternative energy. Plus the advent of grid scale batteries.

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

Low Costs of Solar Power & Wind Power Crush Coal, Crush Nuclear, & Beat Natural Gas

And the cost of solar and wind are continuing to decline. As grid scale storage comes online, they will be even less costly. Neither wind or solar require rails or pipelines to them. Solar can be put on the vast expanse of warehouse, commercial, and industrial roofs. That would eliminate the transmission loss, and make many of our cities partially self powered.

It's inefficient and they wipe out the landscape aesthetic in the process.