KY Coal Facts - Uses of Coal

Uses of Coal

Distribution of Coal by Consuming Sector, 2004

U.S. TOTAL
1,109,803,000 Tons

Electric power plants represent the largest market for U.S. and Kentucky coal.
The three major markets for coal are electric power, industrial and the export markets.

Electric Power Plants
Other Industrial
Exports
Coke Plants
Resident/Commercial
Unknown

78.0%
13.5%
4.1%
1.5%
0.5%
2.4%

863,802,000 Tons
150,309,000 Tons
45,455,000 Tons
17,095,000 Tons
5,122,000 Tons
28,220,000 Tons

KENTUCKY TOTAL
112,417,000 Tons *

Combining market sectors shows 97.4% of Kentucky's coal goes to the domestic market in 23 states.
Kentucky's other coal is sold to Canada and to three other foreign countries.

Electric Power Plants
Other Industrial
Resident/Commercial
Exports
Coke Plants

67.8%
28.4%
1.0%
2.6%
0.2%

76,227,000 Tons
31,886,000 Tons
1,117,000 Tons
3,004,000 Tons
183,000 Tons

Eastern Kentucky
90,218,000 Tons

Eastern Kentucky's market has remained steady in the industrial market (30.5%), the export and coking markets have increased while the electric power plant market remains predominate at 65.0%.

Electric Power Plants
Other Industrial
Exports
Resident/Commercial
Coke Plants

65.0%
30.5%
3.1%
1.2%
0.2%

58,663,000 Tons
27,526,000 Tons
  2,816,000 Tons
  1,030,000 Tons
     183,000 Tons

Western Kentucky
22,199,000 Tons

Western Kentucky’s market has seen a decrease in the industrial market (19.6%), while remaining almost totally dependent on the electric power market with 79.1% of its coal going to electric power plants.

Electric Power Plants
Other Industrial
Resident/Commercial
Exports

79.1%
19.6%
0.4%
0.9%

17,564,000 Tons
4,360,000 Tons
87,000 Tons
188,000 Tons

Source: U.S. DOE - Energy Information Administration, Coal Industry Annual, 2004.
*NOTE: Distribution figures may differ from production figures due to the stockpiling of coal.