St. Louis renews its status as a world energy nerve center

[Arch City]

Arch Coal Mines a Rich Seam
Wall Street Journal
By LIAM DENNING
Monday, May 2, 2011

U.S. coal's great escape continues. Arch Coal is the latest miner to dig a tunnel abroad with its $3.5 billion takeover of International Coal Group. It won't be the last.

Despite dodging comprehensive carbon cap-and-trade legislation for now, domestic miners still must look over their shoulders. U.S coal consumption in 2010 was less than in 2000. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency continues to target emissions from coal-fired power plants, and cheap natural gas presents a competitive threat.

Globally, however, coal's future looks brighter. The International Energy Agency expects steam coal consumption—used for generating power—to rise by a fifth by 2020. Meanwhile, demand for metallurgical coal, used to make steel, remains strong in emerging markets such as China.

This geographic shift is leading to "the U.S. quietly building out its coal export capacity" says David Gagliano of Credit Suisse. Last year, net exports of coal from the U.S. hit 62 million tons, or 5.7% of total production, both the highest since 1998. A number of projects under way will expand U.S. coal export capacity, such as the Asia-focused Gateway Pacific Terminal being built in Washington.

To read more go here.

[Arch City]

Although Arch Coal, Inc. is already a Fortune 1000 firm, International Coal Group is going to add nearly $700-million in revenue to Arch Coal's 2010 revenue.

[KB0679]

Well I learned something new. Had no idea STL had such a prominent industry in one of our natural resources.

[Arch City]

FYI

The merger of Arch Coal and International Coal Group looks as if might create another F500 in St. Louis. The combined company will look like this with each of their current numbers.

Revenue: $4.3-billion
Net Income: $189-million
Reserves: 5.5 billions tons
Coal Sales: 178 million tons
Employees: 7,400

Source

[Arch City]

Arch Coal establishes Asia-Pacific subsidiary (in Singapore)

[yerfdog]

Originally Posted by kool maudit

with cheap and plentiful coal, any number of burgeoning industrial concerns become possible for saint louis!

from pocket-watches to spats, all manner of manufactured products can easily be forged when and where coal is abundant.

post was underrated

[C.Lan]

Originally Posted by Arch City

Arch Coal establishes Asia-Pacific subsidiary (in Singapore)

I really like the colors in this shot, btw. Want to see it off of the internet someday. This (merger) seems like it could be a positive development for st. louis, if it goes forward. Over all, it would be positive news for the midwest. I Just visited the area over christmas break, actually, and it seemed like too many areas were struggling after the recession... Miss hearing good news out of the area. You are giving us excellent updates thank you.

[Expat]

Arch City, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

[pj3000]

Coal has really done economic wonders for West Virginia.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by pj3000

Coal has really done economic wonders for West Virginia.

• Video Link

[Strange Meat]

Can we please stop using coal?

[ardecila]

^^ I have no problem continuing to use coal so long as the industry finds safer, less environmentally-harmful ways to extract it. Strip mining is not an answer, and the traditional method of coal mining is very dangerous for miners and can often lead to subsidence on the surface many years later as the caverns collapse.

[Xing]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

• Video Link

What they do is dangerous , and they don't get paid, nor are they protected, or respected, as much as they should be.

This was off topic, so forgive me Arch.

[Strange Meat]

Originally Posted by ardecila

^^ I have no problem continuing to use coal so long as the industry finds safer, less environmentally-harmful ways to extract it. Strip mining is not an answer, and the traditional method of coal mining is very dangerous for miners and can often lead to subsidence on the surface many years later as the caverns collapse.

Extraction is generally bad, and so is burning it.

[DBR96A]

Originally Posted by BG918

The next few decades will be a battle between natural gas and coal.

Heh, Pennsylvania wins regardless.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by Xing

What they do is dangerous , and they don't get paid, nor are they protected, or respected, as much as they should be.

I don't respect, much less feel sorry for, any industry (or its workers) which uses 1750s technology for its own profit, and to the detriment of everyone.

Other than that, coal is great. Just ask West Virginians how it's made their state wealthy, educated, and healthy beyond imagination.

[Xing]

Originally Posted by pj3000

I don't respect, much less feel sorry for, any industry (or its workers) which uses 1750s technology for its own profit, and to the detriment of everyone.

Other than that, coal is great. Just ask West Virginians how it's made their state wealthy, educated, and healthy beyond imagination.

Oh really, you see the workers who work for that industry as equal with those who run it? I've worked blue collar before, and that is below and beyond what I agree with. That's such a blinded perspective of the reality. They're absolutely not on par with their leaders. Small towns, and big cities with bad economies, aren't the same as major cities with striving economies. There are reasons small towners in resource rich areas work in places like this.

It's desperation, versus greed. It's not the simple perspective you've been influenced to believe. Don't try and perpetuate that here, until we really know what's going on.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by Xing

Oh really, you see the workers who work for that industry as equal with those who run it? I've worked blue collar before, and that is below and beyond what I agree with. That's such a blinded perspective of the reality. They're absolutely not on par with their leaders. Small towns, and big cities with bad economies, aren't the same as major cities with striving economies. There are reasons small towners in resource rich areas work in places like this.

It's desperation, versus greed. It's not the simple perspective you've been influenced to believe. Don't try and perpetuate that here, until we really know what's going on.

Who is suggesting that workers are "equal" or "on par" with the industry leaders? I'm not. I just said that I do not respect or feel sorry for them.

I fully understand the reasons "small towners" work in the coal mines. You know, because I've "worked blue collar before" too (jeez, what a load of crap). The coal industry, especially in a state like West Virginia, is a generational ignorance breeder.

And your last point (in bold)... what?

[Arch City]

^First I want to say that I advocate for the safest ways possible to mine coal. I am rooting for clean coal technology. And I am for making sure corporations follow laws and guidelines to ensure that miner's health and safety are properly cared for.

With that said, as Xing suggested there is a big difference between the corporate big wigs who sit is office towers and the actual workers who do the work to make these big corporations grow and prosper. I understand Xing's point and I understand your point as well, but they are separate points of contention. While I won't pretend to know a lot about West Virginia, the state apparently has not done a whole lot to diversify its economy if its biggest or main industry is coal. In essence however, coal (or the coal industry) in and of itself should not be the blame for W.V. social problems - like the beer industry is not to blame for St. Louis social problems.

Ultimately, the purpose of this thread was to tout the corporate presence of numerous large energy (i.e. coal) firms based in St. Louis. Further, it's not like coal is being mined in St. Louis - although it is mined in downstate Illinois, which is very close. The "suits" are in St. Louis with the "hard hats" in the distance.

Nonetheless, coal may have a bad rap, but so does foreign oil these days. As I see it, at least coal is an abundant domestic resource, and I am glad St. Louis is a prime corporate center for it. If St. Louis corporations do right by their employees, work harder towards cleaner coal solutions, I am all for it.

[pj3000]

^ Yeah, I understand all the points made... I may not agree with them, but I understand what both of you are trying to say. However, advocating for increased domestic coal production is a difficult position to defend... especially considering the history and effects of the coal industry in the Appalachian US, West Virginia in particular. A two hundred year old, deeply-ingrained industrial system based on the lowest form of economic development, that being natural resource extraction, has very much to do with a state's social problems.