In the black

The price of coal is soaring. Demand is up. No one could be happier than Greene County's miners, who dig the steady work and fat paychecks. Inquirer staff writer Jane M. Von Bergen takes you to the scene. Read the article

Coal mining region in photos

Photographer Eric Mencher's picture slide show takes you through coal mining country, from the local diner to abandoned properties, into the fields and down into the belly of the earth. View the slide show

Down below in the coal dust

Inquirer reporter Jane M. Von Bergen and staff photographer Eric Mencher donned overalls, fluorescent vests, hard hats with ear protectors and miner’s light, steel-toed boots, gloves and heavy equipment belts, each with a spare battery and oxygen equipment – to go deep underground at a coal mine. Read her account of their adventure

Coal: Greene County's black gold

No other county produced more coal than Greene County in Pennsylvania. The demand for coal in the global marketplace brings prosperity to its residents. Watch the video

 "You wouldn't believe the quantity of coal that's being mined"

Reporter Jane M. Von Bergen talks with Inquirer columnist Mike Armstrong about a trip that she and Inquirer photographer Eric Mencher made to a mine, during a recent segment of Philadelphia Business Today.  Watch the interview

 Leaving no lump behind

Longwall mining can remove 7,000 tons of coal in one 10-hour shift. It is very productive because it removes all of the product from the targeted area, and does not leave behind coal to support the rock above. An interactive graphic shows you how

Links to more information

The Department of Energy’s energy information Web site offers news and economic statistics about many sources of power, including coal. Check it out

Interested in the price of coal? Here's a chart that shows price changes. Check it out

Mine disasters, occupational hazards, and employment statistics are all included in a vast reservoir of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute of Safety and Health. Check it out

The U.S. Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration is another source. Check it out

Despite the grassroots-sounding name, this Web site is sponsored by the coal industry — mining companies and their suppliers who promote the importance of coal to the state’s economy. Check it out

These are the company Web sites for the two biggest coal mining companies in Greene County, Pennsylvania: 
Foundation Coal Holdings Inc. and Consol Energy Inc.

The Web site for the United Mine Workers of America, a labor union, includes highlights of labor contracts and the union’s point of view on Pennsylvania legislation. Check it out

The Center for Coalfield Justice in southwest Pennsylvania monitors environmental and other issues concerning coal mining. Check it out

Greene County’s official Web site includes tourist and government information. Check it out