Keeping Coal Afloat

The Associated Press' Tim Huber examines whether, or for how long, the U.S. coal industry can withstand the forces wreaking havoc on much of the rest of the national economy.

"Already, mine operators have scaled back production plans for 2009, namely coking coal used for steelmill blast furnaces as manufacturing grinds to a halt," Huber reports. But some producers " locked in high prices by signing contracts for much of their 2009 production last year," while "woes in the energy and steel sector may actually benefit coal producers."

"(T)he industry is typically not hit as hard as other sectors during recessions," the article also observes. "Figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show electricity demand has remained relatively flat during the last three U.S. recessions."