One alternative for displaced coal miners is found in the growing renewable energy sector: specifically, the solar and wind industries. (greenbiz.com)
Coal use for power generation fell even more, by at least 4 %, as power plant efficiency improved and gas and biomass displaced coal in thermal power generation. (carbonbrief.org)
The economic downturn, combined with natural gas displacing some coal as a source of electricity generation, is projected to lead to a 5 percent decline in fossil - fuel - based CO2 emissions in 2009 (U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Growth Chart). (dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com)