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 […]
U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that 2025 saw the lowest U.S. coal capacity retirements in 15 years: 2.6 GW retired across four plants, compared to 8.5 GW originally planned. Operators delayed another 4.8 GW and cancelled 1.1 GW outright. One unit scheduled for 2026 retirement has been pushed to 2029. For context, 13.7 GW retired in 2022 alone. The message from operators is clear — coal is staying on the grid longer than planners assumed. #kycoal #GridReliability ... See MoreSee Less
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NERC’s latest long-term assessment: 13 of 23 North American grid areas face elevated resource adequacy risk through 2030, up from roughly one-quarter in 2022. Resource adequacy measures whether enough generation capacity exists to meet peak demand plus reserves. Coal capacity factors rose from 42% to 50% last year. Only 4.6 GW retired in 2025 — the lowest since 2008. The gap between rising demand and available generation is the core challenge. #KYCoal #GridReliability ... See MoreSee Less
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Department of Energy’s $625M coal investment: $350M for recommissioning idled plants, $175M for rural generation capacity, $50M for wastewater management, $25M for co-firing, and $25M for dual-firing retrofits.
Dual firing lets plants burn coal and natural gas, giving operators fuel flexibility without retiring infrastructure.
Separately, met coal now carries critical mineral designation for its role in domestic steelmaking. #KYCoal #AmericanEnergy ... See MoreSee Less
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