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Rising Coal Costs Outpaced by Cheaper Green Energy

Rising Coal Costs Outpaced by Cheaper Green Energy


By Blake Jackson

When people think of eastern Kentucky, coal often comes to mind. Although the Administration introduced several policy and regulatory changes aimed at boosting the coal industry, experts say those efforts are unlikely to reverse its decline.

Shiloh Hernandez, a senior attorney with the environmental group Earth Justice, explained that coal is no longer able to compete with other energy sources in today’s market. “Coal simply is not competitive economically with other energy resources, namely, and especially renewable energy and with storage, it wasn't competitive. It hasn't been competitive for some time,” Hernandez said.

In an attempt to revitalize the coal sector, the Administration made moves to accelerate the permitting process for mining and to roll back certain environmental protections. Yet, those changes are not expected to bring lasting benefits to the industry.

According to Hernandez, the cost of coal extraction continues to rise. “All the cheap coal reserves have been mined out in the United States. For the most part, it's just getting more expensive. On the other hand, renewable energy is just getting cheaper every day,” Hernandez said. “So the market fundamentals are what's discouraging anyone with smart money from investing in coal development right now.”

Photo Credit: gettyimages-djedzura

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