March 23, 2026 - Coal mining and coal-fired electricity generation fueled roughly $21 billion in economic activity and sustained over 36,000 jobs in West Virginia in 2024, according to a report from the West Virginia Coal Association.

The study, prepared by the West Virginia University Bureau of Business & Economic Research, found that the coal sector supported 36,249 jobs statewide, generating $3.7 billion in wages and salaries. It also contributed an estimated $1.3 billion in state and local taxes, including severance, sales, income, property, and corporate taxes.

Commissioned by the coal association, the research examines the broader economic footprint of coal mining and coal-fired power across the state. Coal mining alone accounted for $16.4 billion in economic output, provided approximately 30,600 jobs, and produced $3.1 billion in compensation for workers. It also generated roughly $1 billion in state and local tax revenue.

Coal-fired power plants added $4.6 billion in economic activity, supporting 5,649 jobs and $615.2 million in employee compensation, while contributing an estimated $315.1 million in taxes. Researchers noted that the total impact of the coal industry is amplified through indirect and induced spending, with $15.5 billion coming directly from the sector and an additional $5.5 billion circulating through the state economy.

The report highlighted that coal miners earn significantly more than the statewide average. In 2024, average annual pay for coal miners was around $112,800—nearly double the private-sector average. Though mining makes up about 2.5% of West Virginia’s private-sector employment, it represents approximately 4.8% of total private-sector earnings.

West Virginia remained the nation’s second-largest coal producer last year, accounting for about 15.5% of U.S. coal production. While coal output has fallen nationally over the past 20 years, the report notes that West Virginia’s production has held steadier and even grown since 2020.

Coal-fired plants across eight counties—Grant, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Monongalia, Pleasants, and Putnam—produced more than 43 million megawatt-hours of electricity in 2024. About 53% of the state’s coal was exported internationally, reaching markets including India, China, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea.

Chris Hamilton, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, emphasized the industry’s ongoing economic significance. “This study confirms what our communities have long known: coal mining and coal-fired power continue to be vital engines for West Virginia, providing high-wage jobs and generating billions in tax revenue,” he said.

John Deskins, director of the West Virginia University Bureau of Business & Economic Research and co-author of the study, noted that the sector’s influence extends beyond mines and power plants. “Spending by coal companies, power plants, and their employees supports a wide variety of businesses statewide, from suppliers and contractors to retailers and service providers,” Deskins said.