W.Va. Coal Production Grows Despite Electric Utility Cutbacks
The State Journal
18 November 2011
West Virginia remains firmly in second place among coal-producing
states, according to statistics released recently by the Energy
Information Administration.
West Virginia produced about 70.5 million tons in the first of the
year, behind Wyoming's production of 211 million tons and ahead of
third-place Kentucky's 54.7 million.
Pennsylvania produced 29.3 million tons, Ohio 13.9 million,
Virginia 11.8 million and Maryland 1.2 million.
West Virginia's production was 3.5 percent ahead of the first half
of last year, led mainly by a 9.5 percent increase in the northern
part of the state vs. an increase of only 1.0 percent in the
southern counties.
The EIA reported coal exports increased to about 27 million tons
in the second quarter, compared with 22 million tons in the second
quarter a year ago.
Nationwide coal consumption by electric utilities was 458.8
million in the first half of 2011, down from 476.1 million, or
about 3.6 percent, in the first half of last year.