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. According to the Brookings Institution, "developing nations see coal as one of the cheapest fuels, offering a much needed solution to rapidly growing electricity demand."<ref>[https://www.brookings.edu/blog/planetpolicy/2015/03/19/the-role-of-coal-in-future-global-energy-needs/ The role of coal in future global energy needs], Brookings Institution, 2015</ref>  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 because 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> 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.<ref>[https://townhall.com/columnists/stephenmoore/2017/07/04/trump-can-make-american-energy-dominant-n2350095 Trump Can Make American Energy Dominant], TownHall, 2017</ref>

Coal remains a cheap energy source. According to the Brookings Institution, "developing nations see coal as one of the cheapest fuels, offering a much needed solution to rapidly growing electricity demand."<ref>[https://www.brookings.edu/blog/planetpolicy/2015/03/19/the-role-of-coal-in-future-global-energy-needs/ The role of coal in future global energy needs], Brookings Institution, 2015</ref>  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 because 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>  

 

{{Cquote|Coal production this year is up about 15 percent, according to The Wall Street Journal, and mining jobs are back as well. That's thanks to Trump's reversal of Obama-era regulations meant to bankrupt coal. We need cheap coal to produce steel and other manufactured goods in America, so coal production is basic to keeping blue-collar and hard-hat jobs here at home in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia. Out of necessity, Big Coal is learning how to produce cleaner and cheaper coal every day, as the industry that still supplies nearly one-third of our electricity competes with natural gas.<ref>[https://townhall.com/columnists/stephenmoore/2017/07/04/trump-can-make-american-energy-dominant-n2350095 Trump Can Make American Energy Dominant], Stephen Moore, Townhall, 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.