Nation`s largest coal producers look to merge mines that supply nearly 60% of Wisconsin coal

The nation’s largest coal producers want to merge two Wyoming mines that supplied more than half the coal burned last year in Wisconsin power plants, raising questions about the potential impact on ratepayers.

Peabody and Arch Coal last week announced plans to form a joint venture that would control seven mines, including five of the most productive mines in the country. The companies said the move would allow them to cut costs in order to compete with natural gas and renewable energy sources....

...Arch and Peabody said in a news release that the joint venture would result in cost savings of $120 million a year ...

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Ken Notes: This was obvious, as long as coal was the cheapest source of energy cost was not high on the priority scale, now that gas and renewables are cheaper coal is finding was to reduce costs. I will be playing John Prine a lot today.