For coal,a sharper focus on exports

摘要

Environmental activism, an abundance of cheap natural gas, and the global economy were connected in one way or another with the mixed outlook for coal during the first half of 2012. The effects are being felt by railroads that haul coal to utilities, industries, and export terminals. Domestic consumption of U.S. coal is clearly in decline. Mild winter weather was largely blamed for the drop in coal burned by American power plants heading into early 2012. But in the broader perspective, there's a long-term, downward trajectory for domestic use of U.S. coal.