Did you know?

The United States produces about 1.1 billion tons of coal annually, about 20% of the world’s supply—second only to China.

Coal generates about half of the electricity used in the United States.

Each person in the United States uses 3.4 tons of coal each year.

Nine out of ten tons of coal in the U.S. are used to generate electricity.

• More than 2.3 million acres of mined land have been reclaimed over the past 25 years—that’s an area larger than the state of Delaware.

• The United States has about a 235-year supply of coal, if it continues using coal at the same rate at which it uses coal today.

• Montana is the state with the most coal reserves (119 billion tons). But Wyoming is the top coal-producing state—it produced over 400 million tons in 2010.

• Texas is the top coal-consuming state. It uses about 100 million tons each year.

• The average coal miner is 50 years old and has 20 years of experience.

• Coal ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, is used as filler for tennis rackets, golf balls, and linoleum.

• U.S. coal deposits contain more energy than that of all the world’s oil reserves.

Source: National Mining Association – Fast Facts About Coal

 

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