[TheRealVille]

I agree with you for the most part, the exception being that coal will be a thing of the past in a few years. I think it depends on whether or not Barry and crew are re-elected to another term, if re-elected I could see surface mining taking a huge hit and may not survive or at least at the scale it is today.

Many people think that coal is just used to generate electricity, the truth is coal is used in many products that we use daily. Most people are unaware that coal is used in the production of steel, plastics, rubber, tar, bricks, medicines, solvents etc. With that being said and the fact that wind and solar energy will not be able to replace electricity provided by coal within the next twenty five years. In my opinion underground mining should stay strong for several decades even though most of the coal may be exported.

I suspect by the end of 2012 the people and businesses of Central Appalachia will really be feeling the effects of the recent layoffs, while state governments may take a little longer.

But, the rub is, from what I hear anyway, is that those uses for coal can be used from high sulfer coal. Wyoming or Montana, one of the two, has plenty of high sulfer coal, easy to get to, and I heard on the radio this morning that theirs is selling for 8 bucks a ton. That's strictly what I hear, I'm not sure.