Power plants getting less coal

Power plants around the United States have seen their coal stockpiles dwindle, mainly because of problems with shipping coal out of Wyoming and increasing worldwide demand for energy.

The result has been higher electric bills in some areas because power companies were forced to replace coal with more expensive natural gas to feed their plants.

“People call us the Saudi Arabia of coal. But if you don’t get it to the power plants, it doesn’t matter,” said Mike Grisso, executive director of the Alliance for Rail Competition, a shippers’ organization.

Times Leader