What Killed Coal?

Reflection Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Environmental regulations are the primary cause of the demise of the American coal industry"? Why or why not?

Assignment: We will examine the downturn in the American coal industry by reviewing information concerning market trends, production and other costs, and regulatory headwinds. In particular, we will review environmental regulations that affect the coal industry. The unit will culminate in your production of a written memorandum, addressed to me, that addresses the issues raised in the reflection question.

We will examine the coal industry in two parts: The first part will review the market and operational factors in coal production. You should come to class prepared to discuss this aspect on September 27. The second part of the unit will address environmental and other regulatory issues. You should be prepared to discuss this aspect on October 4.

You are expected to do your own research that we can discuss in class. However, to help you begin your research, I have included below some links to materials that will be helpful. THESE SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY MATERIALS YOU REVIEW BEFORE CLASS-YOU SHOULD COME PREPARED TO DISCUSS YOUR OWN RESEARCH FINDINGS.

Beginning Resources:

Coal types:

http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-coal

http://globalnews.ca/news/627069/the-coal-facts-thermal-coal-vs-metallurgical-coal/

http://www.undergroundcoal.com.au/fundamentals/01_types.aspx

Production, Consumption, Export, and Other Business Data:

https://www.eia.gov/coal/data.php

http://www.carbontracker.org/report/the-us-coal-crash/

http://www.carbontracker.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/US-coal-designed-Web-Onebyone-page.pdf

Historical Price Data:

http://www.infomine.com/investment/metal-prices/coal/

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/commodity/coal

https://www.quandl.com/collections/markets/coal

Coal Bankruptcies:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/3785906-metallurgical-coal-future

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-coal-bankruptcy-idUSKCN0XC2KQ

https://www.snl.com/interactiveX/Article.aspx?cdid=A-32872208-12845&FreeAccess=1

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/276628-when-coal-companies-go-bankrupt-the-mining-doesnt

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-28/coal-companies-spent-95-million-on-lobbying-before-bankruptcies

CO2 Emissions Data:

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data

"Clean-Coal Technology"

http://energy.gov/fe/science-innovation/clean-coal-research

Environmental Regulations:

https://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/regulatory-actions

http://www.ago.wv.gov/publicresources/epa/Pages/No-15A773-.aspx

https://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/content/2016.01.26_wv_et_al._scotus_stay_application.pdf

http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9444.php

http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-climatechange-idUSKCN11901W

http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris/index_en.htm

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/12/us-leadership-and-historic-paris-agreement-combat-climate-change