[ladtx]

Approxmately 50% of Texas power comes from coal, most of which in mined in Texas.

I just recently sold a house and moved from Marshall where there are huge lignite mines all around the area. It was quite surprising to me when we first moved there in 1990.

[mathluv]

There are old underground coal mines that were closed in the early 1900's. The above ground mining began in the late 70's - with the OPEC oil problem. Even with the environmental requirements to put the land back to original status (actually, it is MUCH better), there is still a lot of coal being mined,

Near Mt. Pleasant, home of RINO Tx Senator Ratliff, this mining has been going on for about 25 years. It is fascinating to see those huge draglines digging the coal, and to know that they are still in that same area after all this time.

[Aggie1]

I got a chance to tour one of the coal mining $ electricity producing operations some year ago near Fairfield. Quite impressive. The earth moving equipment is really something to see, such as a dragline crane with a 70 cubic yard bucket! It's all strip mined. After they go through an area it's covered back up, contoured back to original lay, sodded, trees planted, fences put back, etc. No one would ever know it's been mined. I know I've walked the fields.

Don't tell anyone about the secret plan in Texas to secede and make the rest of the country learn to stand on their own two legs.