According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA), U.S. coal production is trending upward by approximately .5 percent from this past year. EIA says production for 52 weeks ending December 31 was 1.09 billion tons compared to 1.08 billion in 2010.

Meanwhile, exports of met coal increased by almost 30 percent year-over-year, from 47.1 million tons in 2010 to 57.1 million tons in 2011. Steam coal exports saw a 54 percent increase, from 19.9 million tons in 2010 to 30.7 million tons in 2011.

West Virginia production increased by 1.5 million tons, from 135 million tons in 2010 to 136.5 million tons in 2011 – an approximate 1 percent increase. Production for the entire Appalachian region increased .6 percent, from 336.4 million tons in 2010 to 338.6 million tons in 2011. The spot price for Central App coal was $76.30, down slightly from $76.85 at the end of November.

Reuters UK
By Eileen O'Grady | HOUSTON (Reuters) - A US federal appeals court on Friday issued a last-minute order to delay the January 1 implementation of stricter federal limits on pollution from coal-fired plants, providing a temporary win for utilities ...

Wheeling News Register
Estimates of the economic impact of Obama's war on coal had been vastly overblown. Heck, only 22 million Americans would suffer from it, the AP found. And, of course, the EPA, in announcing draconian new restrictions on coal-fired power plants, ...

Portland Daily Sun
Reading Christian MilNeil's diatribe against the coal industry and endorsement of the EPA setting regulations far outside its authority ("Coal in the stocking? Polluters deserve it," Dec. 29 column) calls for a review of some facts. ...

On December 13, the State Senate confirmed, without a dissenting vote, the appointment of Dr. Charles Somerville from Huntington to the Environmental Quality Board for a term ending June 30, 2014 and Bascombe Blake, Jr. from Morgantown for a term ending June 30, 2013.

David M. Flannery, a member of the Jackson Kelly PLLC Environmental Practice Group, was recently nominated and appointed as a member of the National Coal Council (NCC). He will serve a 2-year term from 2011-2013.