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CoalProductioninWestVirginia.pptxCoal Production in West Virginia
By Dillon Prater
Types of Energy
Wind Energy
Hydroelectric Energy
Solar Energy
Geothermal Energy
Nuclear Energy
Chemical Energy
“Energy Sources”
There are several sources of energy in the United States including
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
West Virginia #2 in Coal Production
Behind Wyoming, West Virginia is the second largest producer of coal in the United States (“West Virginia”).
91% of the West Virginia’s energy is produced from coal-fired power plants (“West Virginia”).
Due to the many mountains in the state, mountain top removal for coal production is very popular (“The Coal Mine Next Door, 2018”).
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
Why do we care?
Coal production and the use of coal for energy has become largely controversial once it was clear of the harmful impacts to the environment (“Coal Explained, 2020”).
Mountain removal involves large explosions. These explosions can pollute streams or completely cover them. This can harm fish species.
Pollution can impact water sources.
The kitchen sink, discolored by iron and manganese in water, in a home near a mountaintop removal mine on Coal Mountain in Wyoming County, West Virginia. © 2018 Human Rights Watch
Why do we care?
Air is polluted with this process and causes respiratory issues for nearby residents.
Cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, birth defects in newborns are also common in these areas (“The Coal Mine Next Door, 2018”).
Max Phillips, “Coal Mining”
Burning coal is bad.
Burning coal is harmful to the environment.
Harmful emissions from the combustion of coal include sulfur dioxide (which is a big contributor to acid rain and respiratory issues), nitrogen oxide (contributes to smog), particulate matter, mercury, fly ash, and carbon dioxide (major greenhouse gas) (“Coal Explained, 2020”).
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
West Virginia Dependent on Coal
Many West Virginian’s rely on coal mining to make a living. The state of West Virginia employs many in the coal industry (Statista).
Coal-mining employment in the state of West Virginia from 2010-2019 by mine type (Statista).
Eliminating Jobs?
Some could debate that cutting down on coal burning and production will eliminate the many jobs that West Virginian’s rely on and have relied on for many years. Could these jobs be replaced by opportunities in renewable energy?
Some are not convinced that the switch to renewable energy will be a good fit or cheaper for the state. Could it be cheaper and effective?
Making the switch.
Clean energy in West Virginia is very possible.
70% of the state’s energy could be produced by renewable energy over the next 15 years.
Coal-fired plants could be phased out and converted to electric plants for renewable energy would be less expensive to maintain and than to keep the coal-fired plants open.
This transition to renewable energy would create an additional 1,155 full-time jobs by the year 2030 (“Renewable Energy”, 2020).
Works Cited
“The Coal Mine Next Door.” Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch, 27 May 2020, www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/10/coal-mine-next-door/how-us-governments-deregulation-mountaintop-removal-threatens#.
“Coal Mining.” End Coal, End Coal, endcoal.org/coal-mining/#:~:text=Miners%20are%20also%20directly%20exposed,mining%20is%20acid%20mine%20drainage.
“Energy Sources.” Energy.gov, U.S. Department of Energy, www.energy.gov/science-innovation/energy-sources.
Nostrand, James Van, and Tim Cronin. “WVU Today: Report: Renewable Energy Is Key to West Virginia's Economic Future.” WVU Today | West Virginia University, WVU Today, 14 Dec. 2020, wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2020/12/14/report-renewable-energy-is-key-to-west-virginia-s-economic-future.
“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Coal and the Environment - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 1 Dec. 2020, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/coal-and-the-environment.php.
“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” West Virginia - State Energy Profile Overview - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), www.eia.gov/state/?sid=WV#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20West%20Virginia%20was,was%20exported%20to%20foreign%20markets.
