About US
Our mission is to provide effective leadership for the coal industry, ultimately enhancing the ability of the Kentucky coal industry to compete in domestic and world coal markets. Our membership represents both Eastern and Western Kentucky operations that mine coal through surface and underground methods. This diversity helps us build a consensus approach in problem solving and proactively works to resolve the complex issues facing the coal industry.
Latest News
Kentucky Coal Association Announces New President/Executive Director
The Kentucky Coal Association has selected Sam McKown as its new president and executive director. “I am excited to build on and continue the vital mission of the Kentucky Coal Association,” said McKown. “A cornerstone industry of the Commonwealth, coal not only powers Kentucky, but it supports thousands of jobs from one end of our […]
Happy Thanksgiving!
The staff of the Kentucky Coal Association wishes each and every one of you a happy holiday season filled with love, laughter, and family. Happy Thanksgiving!
Lies, Damn Lies, and the Sierra Club
“The Sierra Club lives in some weird Orwellian world where up is down and left is right, where “reality” is whatever they decide it to be. Fortunately, most people don’t live in that world. We live in a world bounded by objective reality — a world where people need reliable energy, not fairy dust and […]
On April 20, the White House issued a Presidential Determination under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act directing action on coal supply chains and baseload generation. The determination designates coal mining, logistics, terminals, stockpiles, and plant life-extension as essential to national defense. Coal delivers the stable electricity defense installations and AI data centers demand. #kycoal ... See MoreSee Less
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The Congressional Research Service has updated its Metallurgical Coal FAQ (Report R48635). A few data points worth noting: the U.S. currently operates eight blast furnaces at four steel mills, and every one of them depends on met coal. Domestic met coal production was roughly 70 million short tons in 2024, with about 70% of that exported. The U.S. is the second-largest met coal exporter in the world after Australia. And under OBBBA §70514, met coal is now eligible for the 45X advanced manufacturing production tax credit at 2.5% of production cost through 2029. #kycoal #americansteel ... See MoreSee Less
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How does coal become steel? Metallurgical coal is first baked in an oxygen-free coke oven at around 2,000°F for 18 hours, driving off volatile gases and leaving a hard, carbon-rich material called coke. Coke then goes into a blast furnace with iron ore and limestone, where it serves two jobs: it burns to generate heat, and it chemically reduces iron ore into molten iron. The result is pig iron, which becomes steel. Every skyscraper, bridge, and railcar in America starts here. #kycoal #americansteel ... See MoreSee Less
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