“Heightened concern over imported energy, rising energy costs and fuel supply disruptions are leading to a greater appreciation for US coal,” National Mining Association president and CEO Kraig R Naasz said.

“With a 240-year supply of coal secure within our borders, the US is well positioned to use more coal for generating electric power and for the production of high-quality transportation fuels.”

According to the NMA, 2006 will mark the second consecutive year of record US coal production, as US energy companies plan a major expansion of coal-based power plants.

“This performance mirrors the increasing use of coal around the world. In the latest international energy outlook by the US Energy Information Administration, global demand for coal by 2025 is forecast to be 25 percent higher than last year’s forecast, as Europe, India and China increase coal consumption,” Naasz said.

Ohio’s recoverable coal reserves of 12 billion tons make the state an important player in the resurgence of the US coal industry. At current production rates, Ohio has enough coal to satisfy its coal needs for the next 200 years and to continue producing coal at current levels for the next 500 years.

Naasz also sees a growing acceptance of coal by environmental groups persuaded that clean coal technologies can sharply curb power plant emissions, citing a billion-dollar plant using the latest coal gasification technology that is planned for Ohio.

Liquefaction technology also presents coal with new opportunities to offset some of the nation’s rising cost of imported energy, said Naasz.

“Several bills in Congress would offer financial incentives to jump-start the construction of coal liquefaction plants capable of producing ultra-clean diesel fuels. Already, South Africa liquefies coal to satisfy more than half of its transportation fuel needs.”

Concerns over global warming have led some to propose a cap on heat-trapping emissions from coal-burning power plants, but Naasz suggested a far better approach would be to rely on technological innovation to curb these emissions.

“Gasification technology already exists, and the technology to capture and sequester greenhouse gases safely underground is not far away.

“Using technology to control greenhouse gases would also help curb emissions in China and India, where greenhouse gas emissions will surpass our own by 2010. Their heavy coal use and rapid economic growth will make these countries major beneficiaries of clean coal technology pioneered in the US,” he said.