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Coal Resources, over 100 Years of USGS Research

	U.S. Geological Survey coal testing plant in "Mining Gulch" at the St. Louis Purchase Exposition. St. Louis, Missouri. 1904.
	U.S. Electric Power Generation by Fuel Type - Years 1975 and 2004. The mix of energy resources used to generate electric power in the U.S. has changed over time. More than half of electric power presently generated is derived from coal. (Data from the Energy Information Administration.)

Coal is used to produce half of the Nation's electrical energy needs. Increasing demands for clean coal energy make information on affordable and reliable coal supplies essential for the energy industry and policy makers in the near future and the long term. The USGS Energy Resources Program research efforts yield modern, digital assessments of the quantity, quality, location, and accessibility of the Nation’s coal resources. The USGS also provides information on the environmental and human health impacts of coal extraction, coal combustion, and coalbed methane production.

The Energy Resources Program provides research and information on numerous coal-related topics including coal quality, coal resource assessments, coal impacts on land use (ecosystems), and coal utilization. The Program also provides access to databases on the coal quality, location, and coal resources in the United States. These maintained databases provide a foundation for ongoing research in the Program. This information is critical for informed discussions on energy resources and energy policy.