Energy



Coal Production and Employment in the Appalachian Region, 2024

This report analyzes coal production and employment data from 2000 to 2023, with a focus on how trends in Appalachia compare to those elsewhere in the country. Variation within the region is also examined. For Appalachia as a whole, despite some slight increases over the past few years, coal production…
Report


Coal Production and Employment in Appalachia, 2023

The coal industry—both in Appalachia and in the United States as a whole—has undergone a severe downturn over the last decade as demand for coal has fallen across the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated recession weighed down on coal production even more. With data through 2022, this report…
Report


Coal Production and Employment in Appalachia, 2022

The coal industry—both in Appalachia and in the United States as a whole—has undergone a severe downturn over the last decade as demand for coal has fallen across the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated recession weighed down on coal production even more. This report details major trends in…
Report


The Coal Industry and Funding Support for Education in Appalachia

These two reports examine the relationship between coal activity and funding for elementary and secondary education in Appalachia. The first report is a descriptive analysis examining patterns in funding throughout the Region, and the second used econometric analysis to examine how changes in coal activity have impacted this funding.
Report


An Economic Analysis of Appalachian Power Industry Ecosystems

This report explores the implications of the changing power industry and the variations in impact across the Appalachian Region. Similar to past work examining the coal industry ecosystem, three measures are examined at the county level throughout Appalachia: dependence, impact, and risk.  Full Report An…
Report
Entire Region

An Overview of Coal and the Economy in Appalachia

An Overview of Coal and the Economy in Appalachia, a report commissioned by the Appalachian Regional Commission, details major trends in coal employment and production in the Appalachian Region over the past two decades. The report examines where employment and production losses have been concentrated within the Region, and also…
Report


Energy Workforce Trends and Training Needs in Appalachia

This study uses national data to project future supply and demand for occupations associated with the energy industry in Appalachia, and the number of people enrolled in and graduating from programs in the Region’s institutions of higher education.
Report