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Sure, but isn't 1/3 of coal mined in the US for non-energy use? A huge amount of chemicals are derived from coal.
by madengr 10y ago
Sure, but isn't 1/3 of coal mined in the US for non-energy use? A huge amount of chemicals are derived from coal.
- rm_-rf_slash 10y agoI don't know about that 1/3 figure but I do know it's getting easier and easier to produce complex hydrocarbons through organic processes like genetically engineered algae. The costs may be high now but for some high-margin products such as cosmetics, algae hydrocarbons are already profitable. And this is something that could conceivably work anywhere, without having to buy a mountain and several tons of mining equipment first.
- nikdaheratik 10y agoThe second graph is probably the clearest picture. Coal production levels are currently on par with what they were in 1985. The industry won't completely disappear, but there are a number of companies that will, and the jobs that go with them are never coming back.