A decade ago more than fifty percent of America's electricity was produced from coal.
But with cheaper alternatives and ten years of restrictions on the coal industry, that's slipped to around thirty percent, forcing job cuts and mine closures.
US President Donald Trump has campaigned hard to reverse that decline.
But as Nick Harper found out in the US state of Pennsylvania, coal country doesn't think the President can make a difference.
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TAKE VO
The landscape of Pennsylvania's energy industry is changing.
New towers are rising out of the ashes of coal. This coal-fired power station is now turning into a natural gas plant. The project is a sign of the times - a symbolic switch in America's energy demands. Donna Hobbs is the Project Manager from Bechtel who is supervising this build.
SOT - Super: Donna Hobbs, Project Manager, Bechtel
"I think for right now natural gas is more prevalent. A decade ago we were building a lot of coal plants, and three decades ago maybe nuclear plants, or maybe even four decades ago. So as the market evolves we evolve with it."
TAKE VO
After six decades of service the coal-burning facility has become a victim of cheaper, cleaner gas. But historically coal was the preferred source of fuel.
TAKE VO
In 1883 Thomas Edison used coal to light this nearby hotel - the first commercial building in the world - with electricity. Here's Meghan Beck from the Hotel Edison.
SOT - Super: Meghan Beck, The Hotel Edison
"There's definitely been changes in economies in this area, and everyone's trying to figure out what that new economy look like. // We're struggling with industries that have left and now what fills that void."
TAKE VO
The US Environmental Protection Agency is looking to scrap harsh regulations imposed by the last administration on the coal industry. But Betsy Lockwood from the economic development program, SEDA Council of Governments doesn't think that will help these coal communities.
SOT - Super: Donna Hobbs, Project Manager, Bechtel
"I think for right now natural gas is more prevalent. A decade ago we were building a lot of coal plants, and three decades ago maybe nuclear plants, or maybe even four decades ago. So as the market evolves we evolve with it."
TAKE VO
After six decades of service the coal-burning facility has become a victim of cheaper, cleaner gas. But historically coal was the preferred source of fuel.
TAKE VO
In 1883 Thomas Edison used coal to light this nearby hotel - the first commercial building in the world - with electricity. Here's Meghan Beck from the Hotel Edison.
SOT - Super: Meghan Beck, The Hotel Edison
"There's definitely been changes in economies in this area, and everyone's trying to figure out what that new economy look like. // We're struggling with industries that have left and now what fills that void."
TAKE VO
The US Environmental Protection Agency is looking to scrap harsh regulations imposed by the last administration on the coal industry. But Betsy Lockwood from the economic development program, SEDA Council of Governments doesn't think that will help these coal communities.
SOT - Super: Betsy Lockwood, Project Development Grants Manager, SEDA Council of Governments
"Northumberland County has been suffering from the decline in the coal industry for decades, so rolling back some of those regulations, I don't think at this point is going to be able to bring it back."
TAKE VO
Some here feel that any regulation rollbacks are simply coming too late, that the coal industry has declined beyond the point of saving. So they're looking at new ways to build their economy that moves away from a reliance on coal.
TAKE VO
And that means looking beyond natural gas. To help drive tourism, abandoned coal mine land has been turned into off-road trials.
An economic engine that the owner of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, Dave Porzi, hopes will revitalize the area.
TAKE VO
And that means looking beyond natural gas. To help drive tourism, abandoned coal mine land has been turned into off-road trials.
An economic engine that the owner of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, Dave Porzi, hopes will revitalize the area.
SOT - Super: Dave Porzi, Director, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area
"The idea of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, that this would be the new coal. The coal industry has gone - what's going to replace it? Outdoor recreation. This is it, and tourism and I really believe in that // that this is going to replace the coal industry here."
TAKE VO
Pennsylvania's coal country is fast becoming a burnt-out relic.
The coal banks remain, but in this community coal itself is no longer king.
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