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Coal

One quarter of the world’s coal reserves are found within the United States.  Coal is also the workhorse of the nation’s electric power industry, supplying more than 50 percent of the electricity Americans consume. As of 2007, federal coal leases provide over 80 percent of the total coal produced in the state. Most of the coal reserves in Colorado are subbituminous (lowest sulfur content and cleanest burning coal) which are used for generating electricity. In Colorado, there are currently nine coal producing mines (seven underground and two surface) encompassing 75,000 acres. 

The 2006 federal production, total production, and federal royalty from the surface and underground coal and in-situ sodium operations are as follows:
  • Federal coal production: 24 million tons
  • Total coal production(federal, state, and fee): 36 million tons
  • Federal coal royalty: 51 million dollars
  • Federal sodium production: 99,000 tons
  • Federal sodium royalty: $391,000

Minerals Home
Within BLM Colorado coal mining varies among locations:
  • The Little Snake Field Office administers three coal mining operations (one underground and two surface)
  • The Uncompahgre Field Office administers five underground coal mines
  • The White River Field Office administers one underground coal mining operation and one sodium in-situ operation
  • Deserado Mine near Rangely has a mine mouth wash plant which helps separate rock from coal. The mine transports all its produced coal 30 miles by railroad to the Bonanza Power Plant in Utah
  • Trapper Mine near Craig has a mine mouth power plant and supplies all its coal to the Craig Generating Station operated by the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
  • Colowyo Mine, southwest of Craig, delivers 43 percent of its production to the Craig Generating Station. The other 57 percent is used for out-of-state electricity
Interesting facts about Coal:
  •  90% of coal deposits occur on public lands in Colorado
  • Coal is used in electrical utilities, coke plants for manufacturing steel, other industrial plants such as cement plants; and residential/commercial uses. 
  • Coal is used to generate 80% of the electricity consumed in Colorado
  • 62.2% of Colorado coal is transported to other states; 2.8% is exported to foreign markets (i.e., Japan, Mexico); the remaining 35% stays in Colorado for power generation
  • With an average BTU of 9,900 to 13,100 and an average sulfur content of less than 0.39%, Colorado coal is among the highest quality, cleanest fuels found anywhere in the world
  • Two-third of Colorado’s coal production comes from underground mining operations.

   
Last updated: 11-02-2007