Coal Facts

WV COAL & THE ECONOMY
Taxes paid by the coal industry and by utility companies that make electricity using West Virginia coal account for two-thirds, or over 60% of business taxes paid in our state.
The coal industry pays approximately $70 million in property taxes annually.
The Coal Severance Tax adds approximately $214 million into West Virginia's economy.
Twenty-four million dollars of coal severance taxes collected each year goes directly into the Infrastructure Bond Fund.
All 55 counties, even the non-coal producing counties receive Coal Severance Tax funds.
The coal industry payroll is nearly $2 billion per year.
Coal is responsible for more than $3.5 billion annually in the gross state product.
ELECTRICITY AND COAL

More than half of the nation's electricity is generated from coal.
In West Virginia 99% of the generated electricity comes from coal.
There are currently 14 coal fired electric generating facilities located in West Virginia.
Coal provides the majority of electric power in 32 states.
In the United States, the demand for electricity has increased 136% since 1970.
National demand for electricity is expected to increase by another 24 percent by 2020.
Emissions from power plants have been reduced by 1/3 over the past 30 years.
It has been estimated that 13 percent of the national power requirement is taken up by activities associated with computers and information technology.