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:
https://www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-coal
https://globalnews.ca/news/627069/the-coal-facts-thermal-coal-vs-metallurgical-coal/
https://www.undergroundcoal.com.au/fundamentals/01_types.aspx
Production, Consumption, Export, and Other Business Data:
https://www.eia.gov/coal/data.php
https://www.carbontracker.org/report/the-us-coal-crash/
https://www.carbontracker.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/US-coal-designed-Web-Onebyone-page.pdf
Historical Price Data:
https://www.infomine.com/investment/metal-prices/coal/
https://www.tradingeconomics.com/commodity/coal
https://www.quandl.com/collections/markets/coal
Coal Bankruptcies:
https://seekingalpha.com/article/3785906-metallurgical-coal-future
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-coal-bankruptcy-idUSKCN0XC2KQ
https://www.snl.com/interactiveX/Article.aspx?cdid=A-32872208-12845&FreeAccess=1
https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/276628-when-coal-companies-go-bankrupt-the-mining-doesnt
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-28/coal-companies-spent-95-million-on-lobbying-before-bankruptcies
CO2 Emissions Data:
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC
https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data
"Clean-Coal Technology"
https://energy.gov/fe/science-innovation/clean-coal-research
Environmental Regulations:
https://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/regulatory-actions
https://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
https://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9444.php
https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-climatechange-idUSKCN11901W
https://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