Preliminary information recently released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), documents the important role coal plays in promoting America’s economic strength through the provision of a large, affordable and readily available supply of energy. The data show 2008 U.S. coal production at a record level of approximately 1.17 billion short tons, up 2.2 percent from 2007. Fifty-eight percent of production was from the West and 42 percent from the East. The number of mines increased from 1,374 in 2007 to 1,458 in 2008, a 6 percent increase. The average sales price per ton was $31.26, up 21 percent from the previous year.
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