NOTHING BUT THE COAL FACTS

The National Coal Association has published a mini-booklet about coal in the US. It includes such nuggets as:

Coal provides 55 percent of the nation's electricity.

The US has increased domestic coal use by more than 81 percent since 1971. At the same time, however, sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power generation fell 26 percent.

Coal miners make on average about $38,000 a year - not including overtime, bonuses, and benefits.