Wyoming’s coal industry is in the midst of the largest transition since production took off in the late 1970s. Demand is falling and some of the largest coal companies in the country have filed for bankruptcy over the past year. According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, Wyoming mines produced around 376 million tons of coal in 2015, down by nearly 20 million tons from the year before. These changes will have big impacts on jobs, revenue, a way of life. So, what happened to coal? How did the industry get to the point where companies are declaring bankruptcy and demand is in steady decline? These are polarizing questions with plenty of political finger pointing. Inside Energy’s Leigh Paterson reports.
What’s Next:
- Inside Energy continues to cover the ups and downs of the coal industry in Wyoming and elsewhere. See all of our coverage in our series The Future Of Coal.
