Alaska Coal
Last modified: 29th November 2023
Background on Coal
- Benefits of Coal
- Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)
- Coalbed Methane
- Coal Combustion Methods
- Coal Combustion Wastes
- Coal Fires
- Coal Impacts
- Coal Mine Reclamation
- Coal Mining
- Coal Terminology: Resource and Reserve
- Coal to Liquids (CTL)
- Mercury from Coal
- Peak Coal
- Quantifying Coal: How Much is There?
- The True Cost of Coal
- Types and Composition of Coal
- Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)
- UCG Documents
- Uses of Coal
Coal in Alaska
- Alaska Coal and Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- Alaska Coal History
- Alaska Coal Proposals Overview
- Alaska Coal Resource: Potential for Future Development (Report)
- Coal Taxes, Rents and Royalties in Alaska
- Exporting Alaska’s Coal
- Long-term Socioeconomic Impact of Coal in AK
- Opposition to Coal in Alaska
- Potential CO2 Emissions of the Chuitna Coal Field
Active Coal Facilities in AK
Active Coal Projects in AK
Inactive Coal Projects in AK
- Linc Energy UCG leases in AK
- Nanushuk Coal Prospect
- Stone Horn Ridge UCG
- Chuitna Coal Prospect
- Arctic Coal
- Beluga Coal-to-Liquids (CTL)
- Bering River Coal Field
- Bethel Coal Plant
- Chickaloon Coal Leases
- Emma Creek Energy Project
- Fairbanks Coal-to-Liquids (CTL)
- Healy Coal-to-Liquids (CTL)
- Jonesville Coal Mine
- Kenai Blue Sky Coal Power
- Matanuska Coal Plant
- Tyonek Coal-to-Liquids (CTL)
Alaska possesses vast amounts of coal, probably a major portion of the world’s remaining coal resource. As a result, the choices that are made in Alaska regarding coal development will have a major local and global impact.
Even though small-scale mining began here in the 1850’s, coal mining has never taken off in Alaska. Usibelli Coal Mine has been the only active coal mine in the state since 1971, producing 1.5 to 2 million tons of coal per year. But rising global energy demands and rising prices for other fuels have led to a new surge of interest in developing Alaskan coal. Current proposals to utilize Alaskan coal include two conventional strip mines: the Chuitna Coal Mine and the Wishbone Hill Coal Mine, several coal-to-liquids plants, and an underground coal gasification plant in Cook Inlet. For a succinct summary of all coal-related projects in the state see our proposal overview page.
Coal provided 42% of the electricity in the US in 2011, giving the country a reliable source of energy. However, coal has greater environmental impact than almost any other energy source, and those impacts can have serious economic implications. Additionally, coal power is more expensive than a number of other energy sources.
As Alaskans, we stand at a decision point. Do we send Alaska and the world into a coal-based future? Or do we choose other, less polluting fuels, either non-renewable or renewable?
Created: Jan. 19, 2018