OBAMA IS HELL BENT ON KILLING THE COUNTRY BY THE COAL INDUSTRY

U.S. Coal and the U.S. Economy

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FAST FACTS AT A GLANCE
Coal Powers the U.S. Economy

Coal mining provides jobs for the long-term.

• According to the National Mining Association, coal mining will need 50,000 new employees over the next 10 years, because of increasing demand for coal and retiring coal workers.¹
• Surface mining alone provides about 60,000 good jobs in Appalachia.²

Coal mining jobs fuel other jobs.

• For every coal mining job, an additional 3.5 jobs are created elsewhere in the economy.³
• In other words, coal mining keeps about 500,000 people – including an estimated 134,000 coal miners – on the job and earning a paycheck, so they can support themselves and their families.⁴

Coal mining jobs are well paid.

• The average mining wage is more than $66,000 per year, approximately 57 percent higher than the average wage for other industrial jobs.⁵
• U.S. coal mining generated $8.1 billion in personal income and payroll taxes in 2007⁶ – and billions more in property and other taxes – which are ultimately returned to taxpayers through vital government services such as K-12 education.

Surface mining is an economic driver.

• About 70 percent of U.S. coal production is mined using surface mining methods.
• The National Mining Association estimates the direct value of surface mining activity at more than $5 billion.  Billions more come from the purchase of mining equipment, costs for coal transportation, use of engineers and consultants, and tax payments to government.⁷

Coal is abundant and affordable.

• Coal supplies half the electricity consumed by Americans.⁸
• Surface mining operations alone provide enough energy to power more than 25 million American homes.⁹
• Electricity from coals costs Americans about 6 cents per kilowatt/hour, among the lowest electricity rates in industrialized nations.¹⁰ The national average price of electricity from all fuel sources is nearly 10 cents per kilowatt/hour.

Surface mining makes economic sense.

• Surface mining is safer and more efficient than underground mining.
• Surface mining has created much needed level land in Appalachia, while preserving the natural beauty of our mountains.
• Today, communities benefit from commercial developments such as shopping malls, airports and recreational facilities – all built as part of highly regulated, government-approved restoration and reclamation plans – leading to a higher quality of life and greater economic diversity and prosperity in the region.
  
  http://www.facesofcoal.org/index.php?u-s-coal-and-the-u-s-economy

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