"US Coal Sector in 'Terminal Decline', Financial Analysts Say"

"Over 200 mines shut down and industry loses 76% of its value in five years, report finds"

"The US coal sector is in a 'terminal decline' which has sent 26 companies bust in the last three years, according to financial analysts.

A report by the Carbon Tracker Initiative found that in the past five years the US coal industry lost 76% of its value. At least 264 mines were closed between 2011 and 2013. The world’s largest private coal company, Peabody Energy, lost 80% of its share price.

These declines were in spite of the Dow Jones industrial average increasing by 69% during the same period. Authors said this indicated a decoupling of US economic growth from coal."

Karl Mathiesen reports for the Guardian March 24, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"U.S. Coal Fall-Off Seen Foreshadowing Fossil-Fuel Pain" (Bloomberg)

"US Coal Crash ‘Serves as a Warning’ To Fossil Fuel Investors" (RTCC)

"Green Energy Undermining Us Coal Industry, Study Finds" (pv magazine)

"'Roof Falling in On US Coal', Investors Warned" (businessGreen)

Editorial: "Clean Air Act and Dirty Coal at the Supreme Court" (New York Times)

"Beijing to Shut All Major Coal Power Plants to Cut Pollution" (Bloomberg)

"No Country for King Coal — the Changing U.S. Energy Mix" (TIME)

"Coal Tycoon Making Last Stand for U.S. Industry" (Wall Street Daily)

"Mitch McConnell's Mythmaking on Coal Jobs" (The Hill)

"California Governor Says Mitch McConnell's Pro-Coal Effort 'Borders On The Immoral'" (Huffington Post)

Source: Guardian, 03/25/2015