Changes

'''Coal mining''' is the process of digging coal out of the ground and bringing it to market.  

'''Coal mining''' is the process of digging coal out of the ground and bringing it to market.  

Coal remains a cheap energy source.  Coal still dominates in [[Australia]], [[China]] and [[India]] though [[Renewable energy|renewable power]] generation is steadily increasing<ref>https://industry.gov.au/Office-of-the-Chief-Economist/Publications/Documents/aes/2015-australian-energy-statistics.pdf</ref><ref>http://ceenews.info/en/power-statistics-china-2016-huge-growth-of-renewables-amidst-thermal-based-generation/</ref> (as of 2017, coal power is also on the rise in at least the latter two countries).<ref>Brown, Matthew; Daigle, Katy (June 26, 2017). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/26/coal-rise-china-us-and-india-after-major-2016-drop/ Coal on the rise in China, U.S. and India after major 2016 drop]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved July 1, 2017.</ref> In 2016, the United States received about 30% its electricity from coal burning plants.<ref>[https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source?], U.S government website</ref> But this percentage could increase in the United States given that the [[Trump Administration]] wants to expand coal production in the United States, whereas the [[Obama Administration]] wanted to lower coal consumption in the United States.  

Coal remains a cheap energy source.  Coal still dominates in [[Australia]], [[China]] and [[India]] though [[Renewable energy|renewable power]] generation is steadily increasing<ref>https://industry.gov.au/Office-of-the-Chief-Economist/Publications/Documents/aes/2015-australian-energy-statistics.pdf</ref><ref>http://ceenews.info/en/power-statistics-china-2016-huge-growth-of-renewables-amidst-thermal-based-generation/</ref> (as of 2017, coal power is also on the rise in at least the latter two countries).<ref>Brown, Matthew; Daigle, Katy (June 26, 2017). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/26/coal-rise-china-us-and-india-after-major-2016-drop/ Coal on the rise in China, U.S. and India after major 2016 drop]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved July 1, 2017.</ref> In 2016, the United States received about 30% its electricity from coal burning plants.<ref>[https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source?], U.S government website</ref> But this percentage could increase in the United States given that the [[Trump Administration]] wants to expand coal production in the United States, whereas the [[Obama Administration]] wanted to lower coal consumption in the United States. In 2017, the United States began ramping up coal production.<ref>[https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2017-06-26/coal-on-the-rise-in-china-us-india-after-record-2016-drop Is Coal Making a Comeback?], US News & World Report, 2017<ref>

[[Coal]] has been used for centuries for small-scale furnaces. Around 1800 it became the main energy source for the [[Industrial Revolution]]; after 1850, the expanding railway system of the industrializing countries, especially the U.S. and Britain, became the major users.  Britain developed the main techniques of underground mining from the late 18th century onward with further progress being driven by 19th and early 20th century progress.<ref>Freese. (2003)</ref> After 1850 smokeless [[anthracite]] coal ("hard coal") became the main source of heating in cities, and smoky [[bituminous coal]] ("soft coal" or "brown coal") became the main source of power for factories and railroads.  

[[Coal]] has been used for centuries for small-scale furnaces. Around 1800 it became the main energy source for the [[Industrial Revolution]]; after 1850, the expanding railway system of the industrializing countries, especially the U.S. and Britain, became the major users.  Britain developed the main techniques of underground mining from the late 18th century onward with further progress being driven by 19th and early 20th century progress.<ref>Freese. (2003)</ref> After 1850 smokeless [[anthracite]] coal ("hard coal") became the main source of heating in cities, and smoky [[bituminous coal]] ("soft coal" or "brown coal") became the main source of power for factories and railroads.