Columbus, Ohio—U.S. coal industry employment fell 94% over the last century and is expected to almost disappear by 2050. As the nation transitions away from coal, regions and communities must learn to adapt.
A new study by researchers at The Ohio State University is the first to go beyond national trends to analyze how the coal industry affects local Appalachian counties—a coal-intensive region spanning 13 states and 420 counties—and outline policy recommendations to support successful transitions away from coal.
“Our research found coal mining-dependent economies have generally struggled in the last century compared to Appalachian communities that have not been tied to coal extraction,” said Mark Partridge, professor and C. William Swank Chair in Rural...
