The coal industry and people who earn a living from it has lived in the shadow of public scrutiny for more than 125 years.  Although coal has experienced some good and bad years, the public’s passion for safe working conditions for coal miners has strengthened.

But the question remains:  “What would the world be like without coal?”

We could easily understand the reason for all the pressure on the coal industry if there was an alternative to this energy source right now, but there isn’t.

Rick Taylor, the president of Pocahontas Coal Association in America states:  “We have essentially maxed out on nuclear energy production, and I can’t see how wind, solar or hydro power can be increased enough to take the place of the present energy consumption.   Coal provides more than 50 percent of our domestic energy needs, and the demand for energy is continuing to grow.  So far, everything I’ve seen will put a greater cost on energy on working people.  A couple of years ago, when the price of fuel went up, it didn’t really have an impact on my mother.  She still bought fuel and didn’t change where she went.  But I’ll tell you, large increase in her monthly electric bill will have an impact.  She’ll have to start making choices.”

Rather than think of life without coal, we should try to think about life without reasonably priced, efficient electricity.  There are many people living in Third World countries who would love to have access to even a small portion of the electricity that we take for granted as though it is an entitlement.