Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
'It's The Stone Age Of Fossil Fuels': Coal Bankruptcy Tests Wyoming Town
Source: NPR
'It's The Stone Age Of Fossil Fuels': Coal Bankruptcy Tests Wyoming Town
September 4, 2019 12:47 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
COOPER MCKIM
Two months ago, coal company Blackjewel declared bankruptcy, putting hundreds of miners in Wyoming and across Appalachia out of work. Miners affected by the bankruptcy in Kentucky have been camping out on a train track for six weeks in protest.
Blackjewel is the third coal company in Wyoming to declare bankruptcy this year, but this one is more dramatic: paychecks went unpaid, a CEO was pushed out and, most importantly, the gates of the mines in Gillette, Wyo., which calls itself the energy capital of the U.S., were locked, stopping coal production. Miners say that just doesn't happen.
The move left about 600 people out of work in Gillette. In two months, only 25% of workers have found jobs, according to local management.
-snip-
Driving to his regular diner, retired coal miner Bill Fortner says, "It's the Stone Age of fossil fuels, coal is. It's done."
His ancestors homesteaded here four generations ago. Fortner is a staunch Republican who has mined coal for much of his life. He says President Trump has been the best shot coal has had, but it hasn't been enough. Production in the Powder River Basin has declined by one-third in the past decade. Fortner says the area needs to adapt, and quickly.
-snip-
September 4, 2019 12:47 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
COOPER MCKIM
Two months ago, coal company Blackjewel declared bankruptcy, putting hundreds of miners in Wyoming and across Appalachia out of work. Miners affected by the bankruptcy in Kentucky have been camping out on a train track for six weeks in protest.
Blackjewel is the third coal company in Wyoming to declare bankruptcy this year, but this one is more dramatic: paychecks went unpaid, a CEO was pushed out and, most importantly, the gates of the mines in Gillette, Wyo., which calls itself the energy capital of the U.S., were locked, stopping coal production. Miners say that just doesn't happen.
The move left about 600 people out of work in Gillette. In two months, only 25% of workers have found jobs, according to local management.
-snip-
Driving to his regular diner, retired coal miner Bill Fortner says, "It's the Stone Age of fossil fuels, coal is. It's done."
His ancestors homesteaded here four generations ago. Fortner is a staunch Republican who has mined coal for much of his life. He says President Trump has been the best shot coal has had, but it hasn't been enough. Production in the Powder River Basin has declined by one-third in the past decade. Fortner says the area needs to adapt, and quickly.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2019/09/04/757245551/it-s-the-stone-age-of-fossil-fuels-coal-bankruptcy-tests-wyoming-town
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
