West Coast military installations eyed for US fuel exports

The Trump administration is considering using West Coast military installations or other federal properties to open the way for more U.S. fossil fuel exports to Asia in the name of national security and despite opposition from coastal states. The proposal was described to The Associated Press by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and two Republican lawmakers. […]

Exports bright spot for coal industry

Although down substantially over the long-term, short-term coal production gains in southern West Virginia are one of the few bright spots in the nation’s coal picture. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s recently released Quarterly Coal Report for the second quarter of this year, national second quarter coal production came in at 180.7 million […]

Feature: US Gulf of Mexico thermal coal exports set to double on year

Thermal coal exports through the US Gulf of Mexico are set to double two years in a row, producing the largest jumps in exports from any US region in the same period. Coal through the Gulf in the first eight months of the year came to over 12.1 million mt, up 94.2% compared with over […]

US coal exports climb for 22nd straight month

US coal exports rose for a 22nd straight month on steady Asian and European thermal coal demand. Shipments from US ports climbed to a little over 10mn short tons (9.12mn metric tonnes) from 8.59mn st a year earlier. On a year-to-date basis, exports rose to 77.7mn st from 60.1mn st. That kept 2018 on track […]

The U.S. Coal Export Boom To Asia

There are many, many falsehoods out there about coal. The biggest, of course, is that “coal is dead,” an organized effort to scare away potential investors of the world’s most vital source of electricity. Indeed, the reality is quite different than what some insist that you believe. In fact, coal is still the main source […]

US coal exports on track for second highest year behind 2012: Census data

US coal exports totaled 9.1 million mt in August, up 5.5% from July and up 17.3% from the year-ago month, according to US Census data released Friday. Through August, US coal exports total 70.5 million mt, up 29.8% compared with the same period last year, while exports on an annualized basis would total 105.7 million […]

Alabama’s Coal Industry Continues to Fuel the Expanding Port of Mobile

With the news breaking Monday that Alabama’s entire congressional delegation supports the proposed modernization and expansion – including major deepening and widening – of the Port of Mobile, I am once again left in awe at what the Port – and its success – means for the entire state. It was a surprisingly cool summer […]

US COAL USE HITS 35-YEAR LOW, BUT EXPORTS ARE BOOMING

Foreign markets are lining up to purchase American coal by widening amounts as U.S. coal consumption reaches its lowest level in more than three decades. Power plants’ consumption of coal dropped to 298 million short tons in the first half of 2018, a sharp fall from 312 million in the same period last year, according […]

Montana Joins Lawsuit Over State Coal Export Terminals

Montana has joined a lawsuit over Washington state coal export terminals. Montana and five other states have filed an Amicus Brief against Washington state concerning a permit to expand a port facility in the city of Longview for the purpose of exporting coal and coal products, primarily to Asia. Montana Attorney General Tim Fox claims […]

ANALYSTS EXPECT US COAL EXPORTS TO CONTINUE SURGING IN 2018

U.S. coal exports are expected to surge 10 percent in the next year, according to new forecasts by the Energy Department’s statistics arm. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that while coal production will fall one percent in 2018, exports will surge 10 percent above 2017. Coal exports were up 32 percent in the […]