China’s coal plant boom is undercutting clean energy push
China’s planners said coal is still needed as backup to balance out the intermittent electricity provided by wind and solar.
Amid layoffs and idled operations, the U.S. coal industry is close to setting a record low for on-the-job deaths in coal mines.
In late December, there were 11 deaths in coal mines nationwide for the year, putting the industry on track to best the record low of 16 set in 2014.
Pennsylvania is leading the nation with three deaths, the most in that state since 2008. If the numbers hold it would be the first time since 2009 that West Virginia did not record the nation’s most coal mine fatalities.