In a time when natural gas prices are skyrocketing, coal provides the much-needed flexibility the U.S. grid needs to keep electricity prices affordable. Coal demand is currently high as the nation recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s not hard to understand why. Coal is plentiful, affordable and reliable. As part of the mix of fuels used in our grid, coal provides baseload generation Americans can rely on.
Sunrise Coal, consisting of 2 underground mines and 1 surface mine all located in the Illinois Basin of Indiana, produces more than six million tons of coal annually, with a projected seven million tons of coal to be produced in 2022. The underground mines use a ‘room and pillar’ approach to ensure safety and avoid environmental damage. The three mines of Sunrise Coal produce both high- and low-sulfur coal, which goes on to the power plants that power our homes and businesses, enabling our modern way of life.