COLLATERAL DAMAGE: THE IMPACT OF OBAMA-ERA REGULATIONS ON THE EASTERN KENTUCKY COALFIELDS

Article Written By: Noah R. Friend

The coalfield’s greatest industry has been staggered by a series of federal enactments that make mining more difficult and cause the largest consumers of Eastern Kentucky coal to begin transitioning to alternate energy sources. As a new administration takes office and takes aim at reversing Obamaera policies, it is appropriate to: (1) discuss the Obama-era policies that contributed to the rapid industry decline during the past decade; (2) quantify the industry losses suffered in the Eastern Kentucky coalfields in the past two decades; and (3) discuss steps that can be taken to avoid another such downturn in the future.

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