A recent report from the Energy Information Administration shows that coal production has fallen by more than one-third since peaking in 2008. As U.S. coal demand has given way to natural gas and growth in renewable energy sources, the number of active coal mines has decreased by more than 50%. The total number of functioning coal mines in 2017 was 671, down from 1,435 mines in 2008.
Most of these smaller, less efficient mines were located in the Appalachian region. Although mines located underground had a larger percentage of closures from 2008 to 2017 (60% vs. 49%), surface mines have seen more significant declines in production. Their production has fallen by 39%. Underground mine production had declined by 24%.
Most regions contain a mix of both underground and surface mines, except for the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Montana. In this area, large surface mines account for more than 40% of total U.S. coal production.
The Illinois and Appalachian Basins east of the Mississippi River have the most mines in the country, with more than 77% of production in the eastern United States coming from underground mines. Between 2008 and 2017, 340 fewer underground mines were in operation, compared with 410 fewer surface mines.
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