Coal production in the first quarter in the US reached the lowest level

Wyoming's coal production continued to decline at the start of the new year, hitting a 20-year low in the first quarter, according to data released by the EIA. From January to March, Wyoming's coal output was 54.6 million tons, down 10.8 million tons from the same period last year. Before novel coronavirus pneumonia and its subsequent economic collapse hit the United States, the coal industry had suffered many years of falling demand. Many power plants abandon power coal and instead seek cheaper sources of energy, such as natural gas and renewable energy, to generate electricity. According to industry experts novel coronavirus pneumonia has reduced the consumption of large industries and further reduced the demand for coal. Rob godby, an economist at the University of Wyoming, said that the first quarter of this year was the lowest coal production quarter in more than 20 years, and the second quarter since the 1990s when the output of the Powder River Basin was less than 60 million tons. The decline is likely to continue. In spring, the power demand of the whole country is usually weak, so some power plants take the opportunity to start maintenance. Coupled with the recession, the U.S. coal industry is likely to struggle.