A newly-released report by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet shows that the losses in the coal industry
According to the Kentucky Quarterly Coal Report, released this week by the Energy and Environment Cabinet, the coal production rate statewide fell to its lowest level since 1939 and the Eastern Kentucky rate of production decreased by 21.6 percent to produce 4.5 million tons. The rate, the report said, is the lowest reported in Eastern Kentucky since 1917.
In the first quarter of 2016, the report shows, Kentucky coal mines reduced on-site employment by 1,501 workers, or 17.9 percent of their workforce. As of April 1, the report said, an estimated 6,900 persons were employed at Kentucky coal mines, the lowest level recorded since 1898. At the same time, the report shows, Eastern Kentucky coal mine employment decreased by 21.6 percent from the fourth quarter of 2015.
In Pike County, the report shows, Pike County saw 298
According to the report, in the first quarter, Floyd County lost a total of 241 coal jobs, leaving only 105 people directly employed in mining. In total, the report shows, 6,900 people were employed in mining statewide at the end of the quarter.
“Many coal-fire power plants across the United States have closed in
“Approximately 85 percent of the coal mined in Kentucky in 2015 was used to generate electricity at 89 power plants in 15 states … Of this amount, 3 percent went to power plants that retired coal-fired generating capacity in 2015 and another 13 percent went to plants that will
Staff Report
Appalachian News-Express
