U.S. coal companies poised for a rebound?

Demand for coal in the U.S. may be declining, but around the world it's the fastest growing energy source since 2000 – EIA said it expects coal usage to jump 50% to 10 billion tons by 2030 Coal companies get no love in the United States anymore. On March 27, the EPA proposed the first ever Clean Air Act standard for carbon pollution from new power plants. The proposal will limit any new power plant to emit a maximum of 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt of electricity produced. Since coal plants emit an average of 1,768 pounds of CO2 per megawatt, it's obviously going to be a huge problem for coal companies if this legislation is passed. The Washington Post even says, “The move could end the construction of conventional coal-fired facilities in the United States.” But as if the future didn't look dreary enough, demand for coal as America's primary energy source is already fading. Continue reading this article here.