Utility and industrial coal consumers continue to be vexed in their decision-making efforts to invest in and plan for the future by the myriad regulations being imposed by EPA.
Utility and industrial coal consumers continue to be vexed in their decision-making efforts to invest in and plan for the future by the myriad regulations being imposed by EPA. Coal producers are also experiencing the brunt of regulatory uncertainty stemming from mine permitting regulations that appear to change mid-stream – literally and figuratively. We examine a number of these regulations in this issue.
In addition to impacting business operations, regulations will have a significant effect on job creation and employment opportunities. The Administration and Congress do seem to be refocused on the need to enhance U.S. economic recovery. But the realities of pending budget cuts and political favoritism indicate that coal will suffer more than its fair share of the pain of restoring fiscal responsibility vis-à-vis other energy resources. How these decisions will impact U.S. trade routes, coal power plants and U.S. jobs are topics addressed herein.
The decisions we’re called upon to make today will have long-lasting implications for our nation. Certainly none of those decisions are being taken lightly and there are hard lessons to be learned along the way. Learn we must.
Years ago, a young reporter was given the opportunity to interview a very successful, very wealthy banker. The reporter asked him, “Sir, what is the secret of your success?”
He said, “Two words, young man.”
“And sir, what are those two words?”
“Right decisions.”
“But how do you make right decisions?”
“One word,” he said.
“And sir, what is that word?”
“Experience.”
“And how do you get experience?”
“Two words.”
“And sir, what are those two words?”
“Wrong decisions.”
Perhaps the best we can hope for is that misguided decisions made today will, in time, contribute to our experience and guide us toward the right decisions tomorrow.
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