Increases in oil and diesel fuel prices can significantly affect the cost of transportation, which affects the final delivered price of coal. All of these transportation modes use diesel fuel. Most coal is transported by train, barge, truck, or a combination of these modes. In some cases, such as in long-distance shipments of Wyoming subbituminous coal to power plants in the eastern United States, transportation costs are more than the price of coal at the mine. Transportation costs add to the delivered price of coal. Once coal is mined, it must be transported to consumers. Coal transportation costs can be significant Because of environmental regulations limiting sulfur emissions, low-sulfur coals may sell for higher prices than high-sulfur coals. When SO 2 combines with moisture in the atmosphere, it produces acid rain that can harm forests and lakes. When coal is burned, it releases impurities that can combine with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide (SO 2).
The higher cost of coal from underground mines reflects the more difficult mining conditions and the need for more miners. In locations where coal beds are thick and near the surface, such as in Wyoming, mining costs and coal prices tend to be lower than in locations where the beds are thinner and deeper, such as in Appalachia. coal production.Ĭoal prices at surface mines are generally lower than prices at underground mines. Anthracite is the least abundant rank of coal in the United States, and it generally accounts for less than 1% of annual U.S. coal production in 2020.Īnthracite contains 86%–97% carbon and has a heating value that is slightly higher on average than bituminous coal. Bituminous coal accounted for about 45% of U.S. Bituminous is the most abundant rank of coal found in the United States. Bituminous coal was formed under high heat and pressure. About 46% of the coal produced in the United States in 2021 was subbituminous.īituminous coal contains 45%–86% carbon and has two to three times the heating value of lignite. Subbituminous coal typically contains 35%–45% carbon, compared with 25%–35% for lignite. Subbituminous coal has a higher heating value than lignite. Lignite is crumbly and has high moisture content.
Lignite is the lowest rank of coal and has the lowest energy content.
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