This all or none attitude of mining and burning coal makes no sense at all.
From my own viewpoint, I have burned about two tons of coal a year to heat my house and to do some cooking. My system also heats my water for all hot water uses.
So for two tons of lump coal a year I am dependent on coal burning. Coal has been a primary energy at my home in the La Plata Mountain foothills for the last 50 years.
Certainly I am not wanting to install gas for heating. For one thing I am afraid of gas. For another, I much prefer the steady heat output of coal and the long lasting fire it provides.
Wood is not an option since a wood fire would have to be fed much more often – my coal fire basically never goes out through the winter.
The purpose of this letter is to make a case that local coal continue to be permitted and mined for local uses. Please, all things in life do not have to be all or none. There are a few others like myself who prefer a coal fire over other ways of heating.
In addition to that, the Durango narrow gauge train is one of the biggest tourist attractions in this corner of the state. I am fighting hard for continued coal mining here.
King Coal is an excellent product that burns clean, has a small amount of ash, and puts out a steady heat.
Marilyn Colyer
Mancos
