14 DAY TRIAL // According to a recent report shared with the public by the Energy and Information Administration in the United States, the country has made considerable progress towards putting its dependence on coal behind it over the past decade.
More precisely, the Energy and Information Administration argues that, according to recent figures, the amount of coal exported by the United States has tripled since 2005 until present day.
This indicates that this dirty energy source is not as popular in the country as it used to be, and that, because of this, coal producers have been left with no choice except try and stay in business by closing deals with foreign buyers.
EcoWatch tells us that, as shown by specialists working with the Administration, the United States exported a total of 50 million short tons of coal in 2005.
By comparison, the country's coal exports amounted to roughly 126 million short tons in 2012. This is an indicator of the fact that coal is no longer as sought after in the United States as it used to be.
The same source tells us that, for the time being, about 50% of the coal that the country parts with on a yearly basis is destined for European markets.
Another 26% has been documented to be meant for Asia, whereas 10% is bought by folks in North and South America, the Energy and Information Administration explains.
This basically means that, for the time being, coal exports constitute an important source of revenue for only for producers in the country, but also for railroads and barge companies.
Despite the fact that the amount of coal exported by the United States on a yearly basis has increased to a considerable extent over the past decade, it would appear the this fossil fuel currently accounts for just 5% of the country's overall energy exports.
Specialists say that, all things considered, the United States has started to send ever-increasing quantities of coal to markets in Europe, Asia, and North and South America due to the fact that natural gas and renewables have become more popular in the country.
They further explain that this increase in the popularity of natural gas and renewables it likely the result of falling prices associated with using these resources for energy generation.
On the other hand, it is likely that new environmental regulations have also helped make conventional coal plants less appealing, and have therefore sparked a national interest in energy sources other than fossil fuels.