Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Coal Association (PCA) released its annual Coal Data Book today and with a total output of nearly 60 million tons in 2010, Pennsylvania remains the fourth largest coal producing state in the nation.
PCA President George Ellis stated that the data shows that “Coal is still the country’s most affordable, reliable and abundant fuel source both within Pennsylvania and nationally, and is well positioned to play a significant role in helping to secure our energy future.”
Coal remains America’s primary source of electricity, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the electric power generated in Pennsylvania in 2010 and nationally. Ellis added that cost is a major reason for coal’s preferential status, noting that coal is the least expensive fossil fuel on a dollar per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu) basis. “Additionally, coal is by far Pennsylvania’s most abundant indigenous fuel source,” Ellis said. “Coal is essential to generating affordable and reliable electricity, a prerequisite to energy efficiency and sustained economic growth. In this respect, Pennsylvania coal fields should play a major role in any blueprint for energy independence.”
According to the Data Book, coal continues to fuel Pennsylvania’s economy with a combined direct and indirect economic benefit to Pennsylvania exceeding $7 billion and providing for nearly 42,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Pennsylvania Coal Data 2011 is a statistical report profiling the yearly status of the Pennsylvania coal industry. It is prepared by PCA and its data is compiled from a variety of sources, including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.
The latest Coal Data Book can be downloaded at our website: http://pacoalassn.com
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