Coal. It’s what lights up the world

Commentary: Global coal demand is swelling and these companies will benefit

ROCKVILLE, Md. (ChangeWave) — When the power goes on and the lights turn bright around the world, chances are good that the electricity firing up the latest power plant in China is a coal-fired plant running on none other than imported coal from the U.S.

Coal deposits here in the good old U.S. o f A. are the richest in the world, with the best burning coal in the world; kind of like how Saudi Arabia is the king of light sweet crude oil, the choice grade for gasoline. U.S. coal is the choice grade for getting the most heat out of a short ton of coal.

Just to get a handle on why and how the price of coal is soaring, consider the fact that China is activating one new coal fired plant every week of the year. China makes up about 43% of emerging market demand and coal is right at the top of the list with the Chinese economy growing at a torrid 10.3% for the second quarter of 2008.

MarketWatch