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Billings Montana Coal
Mining Picks up Steam
BILLINGS – With a string of new coal mine openings and announcements, the Billings Montana coal industry is looking at a profitable future.
Montana has more coal than any other state – with astounding reserves of around 120 billion tons. With a rich history of coal mining, and amid recent changes in mining trends and demands, Billings Montana can expect to see a coal mining revival in the next decade. The opening of the Signal Peak coal mine near Billings in 2009 marked Montana's first new mine in three decades. John Baugues with Management Energy Inc. laid much of the ground work for Signal Peak and is now pursuing mines in the Red Lodge and Bridger areas.
About 50 miles northeast of Billings, a Texas company is proposing to mine an estimated 1.2 billion tons of coal underground. It is projected that the new coal mine could be up and running by 2014, according to the Billings-based company Maple Carpenter Creek, which is awaiting approval by state regulators to dig a 300,000 ton test pit near rural Melstone.
A second coal mine by the Maple Carpenter Creek Company, has been proposed farther west of Billings, Montana near the Signal Peak coal mine. This area has deep roots in coal mining dating back to the early 19th century; and with the coal industry looking to more robust coal reserves like those found around Billings, Montana, Billings and surrounding areas can expect to see more and more coal industry leaders with piqued interest in the coming years.
In fact, with these three Billings Montana area coal mines in various phases of development, the Billings Montana coal industry has already begun to see a rekindling of the state's mining industry. Coal will continue to be a significant energy source for decades to come as it is the most abundant energy source in the United States. Other Billings Montana coal mine projects in the works include a coal-to-liquids plant and accompanying mine on the Crow Indian Reservation, the recent leasing of 731 million tons of coal near Ashland by industry giant Arch Coal Inc., and the state's pending sale of 532 million tons of coal, also near Ashland.
A second coal mine by the Maple Carpenter Creek Company, has been proposed farther west of Billings, Montana near the Signal Peak coal mine. This area has deep roots in coal mining dating back to the early 19th century; and with the coal industry looking to more robust coal reserves like those found around Billings, Montana, Billings and surrounding areas can expect to see more and more coal industry leaders with piqued interest in the coming years.
In fact, with these three Billings Montana area coal mines in various phases of development, the Billings Montana coal industry has already begun to see a rekindling of the state's mining industry. Coal will continue to be a significant energy source for decades to come as it is the most abundant energy source in the United States. Other Billings Montana coal mine projects in the works include a coal-to-liquids plant and accompanying mine on the Crow Indian Reservation, the recent leasing of 731 million tons of coal near Ashland by industry giant Arch Coal Inc., and the state's pending sale of 532 million tons of coal, also near Ashland.