Colorado coal production drops 7 percent in 2018

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Recent data shows coal production in Colorado is down.

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports figures from the federal Energy Information Administration through Aug. 25 show state coal production so far this year totals 9.3 million tons (8.4 million metric tons). That’s down 7 percent from the 10 million tons (9.1 million metric tons) produced during the same period last year.

The Energy Information Administration reports production nationally was down 2.7 percent so far this year through Aug. 25.

Ted Zukoski, an attorney with the nonprofit group Earthjustice, dedicated to litigating environmental issues, credits the drop in production to coal losing out to cheaper and cleaner fuel sources like wind and solar.

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Information from: The Daily Sentinel, http://www.gjsentinel.com