WEDNESDAY, December 28, 2011

To The Editor,

Your chosen headline: 'The Coal Age is Nearer to its End' (12/23/2011) was a classic 'bait & switch'.  The article was about 10 - 20% of the US coal-fired generation that is at risk of closing due to environmental regulations.  It was not about the Coal Age nearing its end, nor is the Coal Age nearing its end. As your article rightly stated, coal-fired generation has lost ground to natgas-fired generation and inexpensive natgas prices are a factor.  Hooray for natgas and hooray for free-market competition.  Coal still has a 43% market share of the power mix and the next closest fuel, natgas, has a 25% share.  Outside the US, coal's role is even more pronounced with coal generating more than 70% of electricity in growing markets like China and India. More than 40% of Indian electricity - mostly coal-derived, by the way - goes toward powering the well and irrigation pumps in the agricultural sector.  Inexpensive coal-derived electricity is a major reason why India can self-sufficiently feed its population. Coal is pulling many other developing countries out of energy poverty as well.  The Coal Age is thankfully not nearing its end and as a result hundreds of millions across the globe are no longer impoverished.

Respectfully submitted,

Stephen J. Doyle, Founder
Doyle Trading Consultants, LLC