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Fast Facts about Coal
Did you know?
- The United States produces about 20%, or 1.1 billion tons, of the world's coal supply—second only to China.
- Coal generates about half of the electricity used in the United States.
- More than 2 million acres of mined land have been reclaimed over the past 25 years—that's an area larger than the state of Delaware.
- The United States has about a 245-year supply of coal, if it continues using coal at the same rate at which it uses coal today.
- Montana is the state with the most coal reserves (119 billion tons). But Wyoming is the top coal-producing state—it produced about 400 million tons in 2004.
- Texas is the top coal-consuming state. It uses about 100 million tons each year.
- The average coal miner is 50 years old and has 20 years of experience.
- Coal ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, is used as filler for tennis rackets, golf balls, and linoleum.
- U.S. coal deposits contain more energy than that of all the world's oil reserves.
- Each person in the United States uses 3.8 tons of coal each year.
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