Coal falls out of favour in the United States
Train cars containing coal unload at Dominion Terminal Associates’ facility in Newport, Virginia. (PA)
Falling export volumes, low oil and gas prices, and President Barack Obama’s determination to leave office with a climate change legacy have all contributed to the decline of coal in the United States.
The latest issue for coal – a three year moratorium on mining leases on federal lands, issued on 15 January – has drawn criticism from the industry.