New Home Build...Future of Anthracite?

Hi All,

I'm in the process of designing a new home for my family. We are hopefully going to break ground next Spring. The home building site does not have access to natural gas, so I am limited in my heating options. We are building near several of my in-laws, and they all have anthracite boilers. I am looking into using an anthracite boiler for the home's heat source since oil is ridiculous, and I really don't want forced hot air so a heat pump is not really desirable. That being said, where do you guys see the future of anthracite as far as availability goes in the next decade or two? I know there is a pile of anthracite that is mineable, but is there that much of a demand for it in the distant future? My big fear is that I go with the anthracite boiler and in 5 to 10 years it's hard to find the stuff. We live in west-central Pennsylvania, and there are several coal yards within 10 miles of the proposed home building site so there is a good current supply source.

FYI - Looking at either an EFM 520 or Axeman-Anderson 130, but that is a different topic.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I am guessing there are some knowledgeable guys on here from the PA anthracite region that might have some good input on the subject of anthracite's future.

Thanks-

7 or 8 years ago I would've said ... whaddya worried about? ....

Today ... it's a crapshoot. I believe there's more of a chance of moronic legislation causing shortages and price spikes than actually running out of mineable coal in our lifetimes.

I couldn't make a guess one way or the other ... but I'm burning coal for as long as I can.

Don't forget to look at Keystoker. I have a KA-6 boiler and so far bullet proof after 5 years. Simple controls. No circuit boards or computers to fail. I use a grain auger to fill my hopper and I just remove ashes.

From someone who lives in the heart of ant coal country......buy the coal boiler, furnace, or stove and don't look back.

Rev. Larry
New Beginning Church
Ashland Pa. 17921

I think you guys in pa will be alright, we only have 2 suppliers on Long Island I think it's all brought in by truck , I guess the demand is not here to justify rail , 60 ton loads , it's a shame we have allot of wood burners here I would say 80% of them buy firewood as opposed to other areas where people can gather fire wood! Good luck on your build

I'm with Smitty. Who knows what these crooks are going to come up with. There surly won't be any shortage of coal, unless it's a man made shortage. The whole government runs on scare tactics...........And they do a good job of it. I wouldn't worry about it. One thing I would do is; set the plumbing up so that you could easily swap / add other heat sources. Seeing it's going to be a new home, I'd be looking into 1.)geothermal, 2.)solar, and 3.)wind. I'd set all my utilities up to run off grid if necessary.

oliver power wrote:I'm with Smitty. Who knows what these crooks are going to come up with. There surly won't be any shortage of coal, unless it's a man made shortage. The whole government runs on scare tactics...........And they do a good job of it. I wouldn't worry about it. One thing I would do is; set the plumbing up so that you could easily swap / add other heat sources. Seeing it's going to be a new home, I'd be looking into 1.)geothermal, 2.)solar, and 3.)wind. I'd set all my utilities up to run off grid if necessary.

If hot demand from the Asian steel mills ever returns the price of anthracite will begin to trend upward again as the availability trends downward.

Future energy supplies all have question marks. Set up the coal boiler and have a good clean burning wood stove for emergency.

Buy a few tt loads and stock pile, or rail car

I am an anthracite miner. Lets just say its better now than it was from 03 to 08. Yes, there isn't as many of us as there was in the 90's. But, we are still producing. In 95, there was over 100 deep mines in north east pa, in 06, we had 12 left. Due to an unfair abuse of power we were forced out. We have struggled, and fought. We are on the comeback. We were allowed to reopen, and are pulling coal again. The deep mines are multiplying. It's just going to take sometime. Although I don't think it will be what it once was, we are not going anywhere. I've been in the coal industry since 1995, and will retire in this industry. We work in the cold and dark, so you don't have to live in the cold and dark.

grimmy wrote:I am an anthracite miner. We work in the cold and dark, so you don't have to live in the cold and dark.

Thank God for you folks, your efforts are greatly appreciated by us here

HEAR HEAR!

2001Sierra wrote:

grimmy wrote:I am an anthracite miner. We work in the cold and dark, so you don't have to live in the cold and dark.

Thank God for you folks, your efforts are greatly appreciated by us here

Coal is cool! Build your house and factor coal into the equation!

[quote="grimmy"]I am an anthracite miner. Lets just say its better now than it was from 03 to 08. Yes, there isn't as many of us as there was in the 90's. But, we are still producing. In 95, there was over 100 deep mines in north east pa, in 06, we had 12 left. Due to an unfair abuse of power we were forced out. We have struggled, and fought. We are on the comeback. We were allowed to reopen, and are pulling coal again. The deep mines are multiplying. It's just going to take sometime. Although I don't think it will be what it once was, we are not going anywhere. I've been in the coal industry since 1995, and will retire in this industry. We work in the cold and dark, so you don't have to live in the cold and dark.[/quote]

Thanks grimmy, it's a pleasure to thank the AMERICAN! that helps heats my family and home :punk:

oops double post.