The Economics of Coal

To the consumer, coal is cheap. Beyond the simple economics of the market, the impacts on our health, environment and economy are immeasurable. These externalized costs far outweigh the relatively inexpensive price of the energy behemoth.  We subsidize and tolerate coal, and pay for it beyond our energy bills. For the world community the economics of coal cannot be accounted for in just dollars, Yen, or Euros. Instead, we must view it as part of a human impact. According to the International Energy Agency, coal use grew by 22% in 2006, recording 3% in the rise of Co2. They predicted that number may grow up to 90% by 2030. There is no economic burden greater than the negative impact of coal to human lives.