The anthracite region in north-central Pennsylvania was one of the earliest areas of coal mining in the United States. Anthracite was used by blacksmiths in Wilkes-Barre as early as 1769, and by 1808, coal was in demand for home heating and industrial markets. Anthracite production reached a peak of 99.6 million short tons in 1917, but has declined to only 4 million short tons in 1983. Reasons for the decline, during a time when energy demand has generally been increasing, include availability of cheaper fuels, unreliability of anthracite supply, labor-intensive mining, difficulty in mechanization of mines because of geologic conditions, depletion of the more accessible coal beds, and cost of correcting environmental problems.

Many energy analysts believe that the Pennsylvania anthracite industry is facing extinction. The remaining reserves are, however, extensive; a 1984 study funded by the U.S. Bureau of Mines estimated 19 billion tons of anthracite resources, including a reserve base of approximately 7 billion tons. The cost of anthracite leaving the preparation plant is at least 50% higher than that of bituminous coal mined in the East. However, the anthracite region is closer to major eastern markets, so transportation costs are less for anthracite. Because anthracite has a low sulfur value, the costly scrubber equipment required at power plants using higher sulfur bituminous coal usually is not necessary for anthracite-fired plants. Most mining research has been directed toward the bituminous coal ind stry in the past; similar research is needed in the anthracite industry to develop mechanized, high-productivity mining methods and to improve economic competitiveness.

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