I have a heavy debt load. I am still in business because some of my other mines are profitable and I have credibility with my customers. After working for the North American Coal Corp. for 31 years, Murray struck out on his own in 1987, borrowing tens of millions of dollars to start his own mining business. Three years later, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, mandating lower sulphur dioxide emission levels for U.S. industries that burn coal. But Western coal is low-sulphur.
Eastern coal is high in sulphur.
So utilities pay the cost of shipping coal 1,700 miles from the Powder River Basin out West to Ohio instead of using Ohio. No one has ever proven that the higher levels of sulphur dioxide are harmful. Murray sees hope for the future in electricity deregulation, particularly if a bill he has helped write gains steam in Congress. But Murray now sees a threat even bigger than the Clean Air Act coming over the horizon. The threat is the Democratic candidate for President.