Alaska and Coal - The Basics

The United States has been labeled the “Saudi Arabia of Coal” in light of its prolific coal reserves, and Alaska possesses roughly half the nation’s coal – or nearly 1/8th of world reserves. As a result, there is growing interest in developing Alaska’s vast coal resources for foreign export and domestic use. But given water and air pollution, denuded fish and game habitat, mercury in our fish, and aggravated climate change, coal is a dirty business.