Over
half of all energy produced in the United States is from coal and half
of all coal reserves are found in Alaska. Enter Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc.,
a third generation company which currently operates as the sole coal excavator
in Alaska. UCM coal is among the lowest sulfur coal in the world and the
EPA stated it is the lowest in the nation. Customers include Alaska Railroad
Corporation, University of Alaska at Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright Army Post,
Clear Air Force Station, Eielson Air Force Base, South Korea, Chile, Golden
Valley Electric Association at Healy and Aurora Energy in Fairbanks.
As of June 2004 the production rate is about 1 million tons of coal per year. Once the coal is removed from the ground it is shipped via the Alaska Railroad to various military bases and power plants as well as the Seward Loading Facility for shipment overseas. UCM currently has 90 full-time employees and another 291 jobs are linked directly to its products. UCM's financial expenditures pumps $21.5 million into the Alaskan economy.
Page created 10/5/05 and last updated 10/5/05