The next issue I want to review is....CAN WE BRING BACK COAL. This is an issue that a lot of WV politicians have been promising to do. Is it actually possible? First, lets look at what took down King Coal in our state. According to Forbes magazine, it was mostly Natural Gas. CNBC agrees. Natural gas is cheaper and cleaner. Ofcourse, electricity isnt the only thing coal is used for. Steel for example requires coal. Unfortunatetly, the demand for coal has dropped in relation to steel as well. In particular, the Chinese demand for steel/coal has fallen recently. So for coal to come back in this way, market factors would have to change dramatically. Not impossible, but, we shouldnt count on it.
So, if its not realistic to bring coal back for electricity or steel, what can it be used for. Forbes has our potential answer, and I think you'll be surprised. Carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes are presently used in reinforced plastics, heat-resistant composites, cell phone components, fishing rods, golf club shafts, bicycle frames, sports car bodies, the fuselage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, pool cue sticks and to reinforce concrete and grey cast iron. Read the article below.
Is the answer diversifying coal in this manner? Maybe so. I'am encouraged by the possibility. This answer, however, I think, is beyond the capability of the WV governor or WV state senators and WV state delegates. This would take the US government buying into coal as a alternative to other resources, to study if coal is a good alternative. It would take the global market seeing coal as a viable alternative, actually buying into it. So is it possible for coal to come back? Yeah, its possible. Not, I think in a way that people want. Not in a way that will be back any time soon. Its a bit of a long shot, but yeah, its possible. Coal will still have its ups and downs, but for local politicians to say that they will bring coal back is not realistic.
So, if its not realistic to bring coal back for electricity or steel, what can it be used for. Forbes has our potential answer, and I think you'll be surprised. Carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes are presently used in reinforced plastics, heat-resistant composites, cell phone components, fishing rods, golf club shafts, bicycle frames, sports car bodies, the fuselage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, pool cue sticks and to reinforce concrete and grey cast iron. Read the article below.
Is the answer diversifying coal in this manner? Maybe so. I'am encouraged by the possibility. This answer, however, I think, is beyond the capability of the WV governor or WV state senators and WV state delegates. This would take the US government buying into coal as a alternative to other resources, to study if coal is a good alternative. It would take the global market seeing coal as a viable alternative, actually buying into it. So is it possible for coal to come back? Yeah, its possible. Not, I think in a way that people want. Not in a way that will be back any time soon. Its a bit of a long shot, but yeah, its possible. Coal will still have its ups and downs, but for local politicians to say that they will bring coal back is not realistic.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2016/03/18/whats-killing-the-coal-industry/#36b2b4975281
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/11/politicians-didnt-help-but-this-is-whats-killing-coal.html
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20160223/chinese-demand-metallurgical-coal-prices-helped-push-minings-decline?fb_comment_id=932430990139029_932667696782025#fec469ead3c74
https://www.eia.gov/forecasts/steo/report/coal.cfm
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2013/07/14/coal-doesnt-have-to-die-we-can-make-furniture-out-of-it/#239846c3565d
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