A column published by The Washington Post described Salena Zito’s visit to a Pennsylvania coal mine and explained why she came away optimistic about the future of America’s coal fleet and its supply chain.
Zito joined U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) in a tour of the underground Enlow Fork Mine in Washington, Pennsylvania. The mine, owned by Core Natural Resources, is part of the Pennsylvania Mining Complex that employs more than 1,500 workers. The high-quality coal mined there helps power homes and businesses, supports cement and steel production, and is shipped around the world.
Despite coal’s valuable attributes, more than 17 coal plants in Pennsylvania have been shut down since 2019, and an additional seven are slated to retire in the next five years unless the state takes action to prevent more retirements. Many of these retirements are due to burdensome regulations. As an example, “Compliance with environmental regulations such as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which mandated reductions in emissions requiring costly pollution control equipment, also contributed to coal’s decline,” Zito writes.
But brighter days are ahead for coal thanks in part to the massive amount of dependable electricity that will be needed to fuel AI data centers. The column quotes Jimmy Brock, CEO and Chair of the Board of Core Natural Resources: “I think if the power demand is anywhere near what they’re predicting — some people say you’re going to see a 3 to 3.5 percent increase in electricity use for the next year, annually, for the next 10 years — if that happens, or if it’s even more, up to 5 percent, I don’t know where they’re going to get it if they try to exclude coal.”
Not only is coal powering data centers, but the column notes also that miners at the facility are using AI technology to help inspect coal seams. In addition, modern coal plants are employing an array of advanced technologies to protect water and air quality. Coal has played a critical role in America’s development and, as Zito’s column makes clear, it will continue to have a vital role in America’s future.