If you think coal is going away anytime soon—think again.

No other natural resource has enabled our survival and prosperity quite like coal. Yet, there’s a narrative being pushed today that our world would be a better place without it. To this, we say, ‘not so fast.’

Coal continues to be one of the most abundant, affordable, and dispatchable forms of energy in the world. It remains a vital component in the making of steel, cement, fertilizers, and thousands of other products essential to our quality of life.

This website lays out the coal hard truth with primary sources, data and powerful evidence about coal’s immense contributions to society. Your thoughtful consideration of coal and other carbon-based natural resources is certainly welcome here. Thank you for joining this important conversation.

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Buried fortune: US finds $8.4 billion in rare earths sitting in coal ash landfills

For years, the United States has depended on imports of rare earth elements, the critical materials found in everything from smartphones to renewable energy technologies. But in a surprising twist, researchers from The University of Texas at Austin have discovered that a massive domestic supply has been sitting right under our noses all along. ...

Uncover the Truth

Coal doesn’t bring any benefits to society today.

Not So Fast

Coal is one of the most abundant sources of electricity worldwide. ^[9] Deprived of coal as a major source of affordable electricity, developing countries will struggle to rise out of poverty and improve their quality of life.^[10]

There are no risks associated with transitioning to renewable energy in the United States.

Not So Fast

The risks are substantial, especially if we transition too fast. Fossil fuel power plants are retiring much faster than new dispatchable, reliable sources are being developed.^[5] This could lead to energy supply shortages, even rolling blackouts.^[6]

We should replace all fossil fuels with renewable energy immediately.

Not So Fast

Due to their unpredictable nature, wind and solar power are unlikely to become the reliable and “always available” energy sources required for modern life any time soon.^[1] ^[2]

Renewable energy technologies are carbon-free.

Not So Fast

To build the massive infrastructure needed for renewable power generation, an enormous amount of materials and energy will be required. For example, one megawatt of onshore wind capacity requires hundreds of tons of steel and concrete, translating to hundreds of tons of coal.^[3] ^[4]

There’s no reason we should be using fossil fuels today or in the future.

Not So Fast

Most manufactured products we touch in our everyday lives are created with derivatives of fossil fuels, such as coal. Steel, cement, certain medicines, water filtration, fertilizers, and many other products we take for granted often rely on coal at some point in the manufacturing process.^[7] ^[8]

As the energy industry continues to invest in renewable sources of power, the use of fossil fuels dramatically drops.

Not So Fast

Over the last two decades, the overall use of fossil fuels around the world has increased by roughly 41%, with the use of coal increasing by approximately 55%. ^[13]

The transition to renewable energy can be accomplished with little impact to the environment.

Not So Fast

To reach goals for renewable energy use, the IEA is estimating the supply of nickel, graphite, and lithium will need to increase by 1900%, 2500%, and 4200% respectively. ^[11] This will require an enormous increase in mining and industrial activity, as well as large amounts of fossil fuels to extract, process, and transport these materials.

A transition to renewable energy will strengthen our national security and promote our energy independence.

Not So Fast

An electrical grid powered solely by renewable energy will significantly increase our dependence on foreign nations, many of them with lower workplace safety and environmental standards. For instance, China controls roughly 90% of the market for refining rare earth elements, which are critical to the production of EV motors and wind turbines.^[12]

Myths About Coal

CHECK THE FACTS

REALITY #1

National Coal Council: Coal=Reliable Energy
Fraser Institute: Renewable Energy Can’t Replace Fossil Fuels

REALITY #2

U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Renewable Energy Materials Properties Database: Summary (August 2023) (Figure 3, page 8. Steel is 9% of material for 1 MW of land based wind, or 108 metric tonnes. Concrete is 34% of material for 1 MW, or 408 metric tonnes).
Gulhan Ozbayoglu, Comprehensive Energy Systems: Energy Production from Coal (2018) 788-821. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-809597-3.00341-2. (Chapter 3.19.1.1.2, page 791. 0.77 tonne of coal per tonne of steel translates to 83 tonnes of coal in steel per MW of onshore wind capacity. Chapter 3.19.1.1.3, page 792. 0.2 – 0.45 tonne of coal per tonne of cement translates to 82 – 184 tonnes of coal per MW of onshore wind capacity. Total tonnes of coal per MW of onshore wind capacity = 165-266 tonnes of coal)

REALITY #3