Today, West Virginia continues to be the No. 2 coal producing state behind Wyoming.
Mining contributes to West Virginia's local economies by increasing the area's tax base.
Mining also provides jobs for area residents and helps to create a lucrative environment for small businesses, which in turn supports schools and other community services. That would be even more today. America's coal mining companies are alive and well and producing more coal than they have at any time in history. The 1999 Forecast of Coal Markets recently released by the National Mining Association predicts production and consumption of coal in the United States will reach all-time record levels by year end. Coal production continues to reach record levels as consumption of coal by electric utilities continues to increase.