Jan 17, 2017
One of coal’s last strongholds is under review
Federal land is one of the only places where the industry is holding its own.
by Jed Kim
The coal industry is suffering these days. And regardless of campaign promises, it’s unlikely the Trump administration will be able to do much to bring coal back to its glory days. Fracking and natural gas are just too competitive an energy source. There are still some areas, though, where coal’s so cheap, it holds its own: coal leases on federal land. Now, recent recommendations about that program could make even those spots less viable.