Appalachian Coal Mining: The Conflicting Narrative that Surrounds the Topic of Mining
Coal mining is a large industry in the Appalachian region as I learned in my class this semester, the region conducts both surface and underground mining techniques, surface coal mining methods including mountaintop removal, both of which greatly effect the surrounding enviornment. The coal mining industry has had a great impact of on the United States as a whole and has been a controversial topic for quite some time, dealing with both the environmental ramifications as well as the economic consequences that effect the Appalachian region. In 2006 burning coal provided 49% of the country’s electricity, but by last year the figure had declined to just 30% according to the Energy Information Administration (Worland). For a long time, we have known about the harmful environmental effects as well as the harmful health effects associated with mining. Which has lead to legislation and regulations for the mining industry, that has also lead to a rise in alternative energy methods such as wind and solar, which many believe has led to a decrease in the job market for the mining industry (Federman 2017). There is also the other side to it where the individuals believe the economic benefits for their community outweigh the harmful effects that it may have on their community (Beeler 2017).
There have been many attempts to regulate the mining industry and to decrease mining as a whole. During the Obama administration he imposed the war on coal which resulted in limiting coal mining near streams and on mountain tops, allowing cities to block the expansion of coal export, and enacted limits on carbon-emissions (Burnett 2017). These regulations contributed to massive job losses and lead to profitable coal companies being forced to file for bankruptcy (Burnett 2017). In March of 2017 the Trump administration announced an executive order to revoke various rules regarding emissions that were put in place during the Obama administration, putting an end to the war on coal (Nuccitelli 2017). As a result of revoking the previous regulations the Department of Labor reported mining jobs in America grew by 11,000 in March and by another 7,000 in May (Burnett 2017). In June, EPA said that the US had since 2017 added more than 50,000 jobs throughout the coal industry, as well as bring two of the largest coal companies out of bankruptcy (Burnett 2017). Even with the revival of jobs, researchers have said that this will not continue, as the cost of natural gas is declining and becoming cheaper than coal (Worland).
There are many views on coal mining there is the environmental effects component and then the fact that those working in this industry heavily rely on their jobs as a means to provide for their families. Many people in the mining regions have clamined to be seeing a positive impacts on their regions, after the Trump administration has been working to reverse Obama’s implementations regarding mining. The implementations set forth by the Obama administration isn’t even the worse impact on the coal industry, besides that the fact that natural gas has become cheaper has become the biggest blow to the coal industry, with the wind and solar industry also on the rise (Nuccitelli 2017). Not only was the price comparison a negative consequence of the situation but the increase in automation and technology was an even greater blame to the decline of the coal industry (Beeler 2017).
The other side of the situation are those who rely on their coal jobs to provide for their families. Many are aware of the science that shows the negative health consequences associated with mining, and either choose not to believe the information, or those who do understand the negative health consequences but have no choose in the matter rather than work to provide for their families (Burnett 2017). Those that see it as an economic opportunity of growth continue to mine in order to keep their families and communitues afloat, while those others who take into account the environmental and health problems associated have seen that more than the economic benefit the long-term vision that will destroy the region rather than revive it (Beeler 2017). As they continue to mine in many of these areas they have destroyed the environment resulting in contaminated water sources, which has led to many areas becoming abandoned leading to negative economic and social consequences in the affected area.
Beeler, Carolyn. “Two US Coal Miners, Two Very Different Perspectives on the Future of Coal.” Public Radio International, 30 Mar. 2017, www.pri.org/stories/2017-03-29/two-us-coal-miners-two-very-different-perspectives-future-coal.
Burnett. “Trump and the End of Obama’s Bitter ‘War on Coal’.” TheHill, 30 Sept. 2017, thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/353232-trump-and-the-end-of-obamas-bitter-war-on-coal.
Federman, Adam. “Perspective | Trump Says He Ended the ‘War’ on Coal Companies. But It’s Too Late to Save Them.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 13 Oct. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/trump-says-he-ended-the-war-on-coal-companies-but-its-too-late-to-save-them/2017/10/13/52a8f660-a920-11e7-850e-2bdd1236be5d_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e057a5cd812b.
Nuccitelli, Dana. “The War on Coal Is over. Coal Lost | Dana Nuccitelli.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 Oct. 2017, www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/oct/16/the-war-on-coal-is-over-coal-lost.
Worland, Justin. “Coal Mining Jobs Are Being Replaced By Clean Energy.” Time, Time, time.com/coals-last-kick/.
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