Preparing for the storm in the coal industry

摘要

Tougher environmental regulations. Deteriorating finances of coal producers. Increased scrutiny from Wall Street. These and other developments in the coal marketplace are escalating the need for tighter management of coal supply operations. Robust business practices and effective information systems are becoming increasingly important to executives responsible for supplying coal to power plants. One key factor impacting the U.S. coal market is new environmental regulations being implemented under the Clear Skies Initiative, which is designed to dramatically cut power plants' emissions of three key air pollutants, sulfur dioxide (SO_2), nitrogen oxide (NO_x), and mercury by as much as 73 percent. New constraints on nitrogen oxide emissions (NO_x) are in the process of being implemented in 22 states, with full implementation mandated by 2005.