Retirement of Seven Coal-Fired Boilers Marks 50,000 Megawatts of U.S. Coal to Retire Since 2010

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13. Price of Coal per ton January 18, 2013

Average weekly coal commodity spot prices for week ending January 18, 2013
(dollars per short ton)

Central............Northern ........Illinois......,,,...Powder............Uinta
Appalachia.......Appalachia.......Basin.............River Basin.......Basin
12,500 Btu.....13,000 BTU.....11,800............8,800Btu.........11,700 Btu
1.2 SO2...........<3,0 S02.........5.0 SO2...........0.8 SO2.......0.8 SO2
$68.05..............$62.10...........$47.90.............$10.15..........$35.85

http://www.eia.gov/coal/news_markets/index.cfm

Notice the two biggest factor in coal price, British Thermal units per ton and SO2 amount in the coal. "Northern Applachia" is generally Pittsburgh Seam which is considered the best coal for Steel Production and thus tends to hold a premium in price (Through the further processing by making the Coal into Coke is needed for most Pittsburgh Seam coal has to high amount of Sulfur in it to be used directly in Iron or Steel making).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_coal_seam