It is our intent to keep you and your colleagues abreast of pertinent developments within the coal industry on a frequent basis. 

Accordingly, Coal Forum Headlines is a compilation of daily articles and stories about coal from around the region and the world. Upon reviewing this news stream, if you have suggestions to improve it or make it more useful please let us know.  And lastly, please share this with your colleagues and if they have an interest simply have them visit here to receive future editions directly.

West Virginia Coal Association applauds Capito’s American Affordability and Jobs Act
West Virginia Press Association
West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton praised U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. Hamilton said an all-of-the-above energy strategy must recognize coal’s role alongside other resources while supporting affordability and employment.

West Virginia mine-safety regulators propose kratom ban at coal mines
WV News
West Virginia mine-safety regulators have opened public comment on a proposal to classify kratom as a prohibited intoxicant at coal mines. The rulemaking would add the substance to workplace restrictions intended to protect miners and operations.

West Virginia energy-rebate rollout arrives as PSC weighs power-plant rules
The Herald-Dispatch
West Virginia’s home-energy rebate rollout is beginning while the Public Service Commission considers rules under House Bill 2014. The measure requires reviews of consumer economic dispatch at each state generating unit, including coal-fired power plants.

Industrialization shaped the names of West Virginia coalfield communities
West Virginia Explorer
A new feature examines how industrialization and coal-company development created a distinct naming system across West Virginia’s coalfields. It traces the origins of communities established around mines, rail lines and company operations.

FERC rejects TransAlta cost-recovery request for Centralia coal plant
RTO Insider
Federal regulators rejected TransAlta’s request to recover costs associated with keeping Washington’s Centralia coal plant operating under federal emergency orders. The company says it remains focused on advancing the facility’s planned coal-to-gas conversion.

Kentucky utility tells regulators it plans to keep coal-fired generation operating
The News-Enterprise
A Kentucky electric utility has told state regulators that it expects to keep its existing coal-fired and natural-gas generation operating beyond earlier planning assumptions. The filing puts continued thermal capacity at the center of the utility’s reliability strategy.

Ramaco’s Wyoming coal mine draws new attention for critical-mineral potential
ECOticias
Ramaco Resources’ Wyoming coal property is drawing attention for deposits that the company says include gallium, germanium, scandium and rare-earth elements. The project illustrates growing interest in extracting critical minerals alongside traditional coal resources.

NRG details restart of Petra Nova carbon-capture facility
NRG Energy
NRG Energy has published a case study on restarting the Petra Nova carbon-capture facility after a three-year hiatus. The company says the effort required more than 1,500 tasks to restore the large-scale system to service.

MSHA schedules Western States roundtable on mine safety and health
Mine Safety and Health Administration
The Mine Safety and Health Administration will convene a Western States roundtable with mining-industry representatives on October 14. The session will focus on current mine-safety and health priorities affecting operators and workers.

India’s coal buffer falls to three-year low as utilities prepare for summer
The Indian Express
India’s coal buffer has fallen 66% to a three-year low, increasing pressure to rebuild inventories before next summer. Officials described a tight supply-demand balance as domestic stocks are replenished ahead of peak power needs.

Completed Kestrel transaction reshapes Yancoal Australia’s portfolio
Kalkine Media
An analysis of Yancoal Australia’s completed Kestrel transaction examines how the metallurgical-coal asset and its joint-venture structure affect the company’s portfolio. The deal also strengthens marketing links into Japanese and broader Asian markets.

China’s coal-rich regions accelerate smarter mine and energy development
People’s Daily
China’s coal-producing regions are expanding smart-mining technology and cleaner production while adding wind and solar resources. The effort aims to modernize traditional coal operations and broaden the energy base in major producing provinces.