Coal is hurt by cheap natural prices. Last year, coal generated less electrical power than renewables for the first time.

The coal industry continues to be one of the world’s largest suppliers of energy. In the United States alone, about half a billion short tons of coal are converted to energy every year.

Global energy trading house Vitol is downsizing the China thermal coal trading operation it recently acquired from Noble Resources, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.

Indeed, coal remains one of the most affordable forms of power generation available. Wright’s comments came as welcome news to Michelle Bloodworth, President and CEO of America’s Power ...