Facts

Coal Facts

The United States has 486 billion tons of coal in its demonstrated reserve base, enough domestic coal to use for the next 485 years at current rates of consumption. These estimates do not include Alaska’s coal resources, which according to government estimates, are larger than those in the lower 48 states.
The United States has an estimated 10 trillion short tons of coal, over 9,000 years worth at today’s consumption levels.
America’s known reserves constitute 27% of the world’s supply, more than one-and-a-half times greater than our nearest competitor.
The United States produces nearly 1.1 billion short tons of coal a year, making it the world’s second largest coal producer. China produces over 3.5 billion short tons a year.
Excessive EPA regulation could increase utility bills 10-20% in most of the country and over 20% in the Midwest.
Of the 151 proposals for coal-fired plants in early 2007, 60 were dropped by years end, many blocked by state governments.

In 2011, the United States produced 24.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, making it the world’s largest natural gas producer.
In 2011, the United States produced 5.67 million barrels of oil per day, making it the world’s third largest oil producer.
Proved conventional oil reserves worldwide more than doubled from 642 billion barrels in 1980 to more than 1.3 trillion barrels in 2009.
The United States is home to the richest oil shale deposits in the world—estimates are there are about 1 trillion barrels of recoverable oil in U.S. oil shale deposits, nearly four times that of Saudi Arabia’s proved oil reserves.
The federal government leases less than 3 percent of federal lands for oil and natural gas production–2.2 percent of federal offshore areas and less than 5.4 percent of federal onshore lands.
The world could hold more than 700 quadrillion (700,000 trillion) cubic feet of methane hydrates—more energy than all other fossil fuels combined.

By 2025, some estimates indicate that abundant, affordable natural gas will help U.S. manufacturers add 500,000 petrochemical-related jobs.
Baseball helmets are made with petrochemicals, along with hundreds of other products you’ll find at the ballpark.
The 90 million seatbelts are sold in the U.S. each year rely on refined products.
Commercial airplanes propel our fast-paced economy to new heights, and are built with lightweight, efficient materials derived from hydrocarbons.
The brave men and women who serve in the U.S. military depend on safety gear that is built with petrochemicals.
Do you take heart medication? Have you or a loved one ever needed surgery? Petrochemicals are the foundation of the medical industry.
Need to clear some brush in the backyard or split a pile of wood? Tools and safety equipment are built with refined products.
Over 40% of beverage packaging materials used in the U.S. are synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals.
$16 billion of construction materials used in the U.S. are made with refined products.
Reading this on an iPad? Electronics and appliances contain up to 40% or more of plastics derived from petrochemicals.