[longdx]

Lets's put things in perspective. There are two places on earth that have "Clean" burning coal. One reserve was in the southwest that since has become a protected natural resources area and the other was Malaysia. (The southwest reserve was declares a protected natural resources area until the Clinton Admin. (second term) leaving only the Malaysians. Coal represents over 60% of US Energy production and the industry has gone "cleaner" for the last decade. Right now, coal is a home made cheap resource with high efficiency energy output employing thousands. It is not to say that there are no problems with coal (leaching from strip mining, inherent dangers and effects from working these mines, etc) but it is a cost effective means of energy production. The US has not had a coherent energy policy for 40 years and it will take the greater part of a decade to expand Solar, Natural Gas, LP, Wind, and Hyrdo to reduce dependance on coal. Regardless of who becomes President, the Coal industry is and will be a viable part of the US's energy production.