Comments about ‘Will future of Crandall Canyon mine site include a return to mining?’

The use of coal for electricity has dropped significantly in recent years as natural gas has dropped in price and is cleaner, with less local opposition. The last stats I saw is that coal's use in America has dropped from providing 50 percent of America's electricity to now 43 percent.

Here in Utah, we're facing a very significant shift in our electricity exports that will drastically cut coal use. In 2027, California's contracts for coal-fired electricity expire, forcing the Delta IPP plants to either shut down or convert to gas. California is already buying new wind power from the Milford area to make up for that elimination of coal going forward.

I hope our policymakers are looking toward 2027 (just 15 year away!) with regard to Utah's energy future. As a net exporter of power, Utah needs to be strategic in its thinking and re-shape our energy resources to meet the needs of our big customers outside the state (Los Angeles, Southern California). We need to act now.

Coal's days are numbered.