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==History==
While coal mining is relatively unimportant in Tennessee today, the state was once one of the largest coal producers in the United States.
The building of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad in 1855 opened hitherto economically unprofitable areas to coal mining. These railroads put the state under a crushing debt; beginning in the 1870's, Tennessee relieved that debt in part by leasing convicts to coal mining companies - especially to Tennessee Coal & Iron - to work in the mines. The majority of these convict-miners were black, and their labor was used to break the backs of nascent coal miners' unions; the state also increased punishments for petty crimes, in order to ensure a steady supply of workers for the mining industry. In 1871, white paid coal miners struck against the use of convicts in the Tracy City mines, and even attacked the prison compound with the goal of freeing the convicts; they were unsuccessful. In 1891, striking coal miners in Briceville were successful in their attempt to free coal-mining convicts; in the following year, the convict lease system was abolished, but was replaced by a substitute system: a prison in which convicts would mine coal for the state.
In the 1880's, the state's railway network was dramatically expanded; coal mined in Tennessee grew exponentially thereafter, from 133,000 tons in 1870 to 2.17 million tons (about the same as the current total) in 1890, and then to 7 million tons by 1910. Coal companies (legally or not) acquired the land of individual farmers; by the early 20th century, the American Association - a British coal mining company - owned roughly 80% of the land in Campbell and Claiborne counties. Southern and eastern European immigrants were brought in to break strikes by Tennessee natives, and caused a surge in the state's population.<ref>Jones, James Jr., [http://www.southernhistory.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1680&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 Social Control, Social Displacement and Coal Mining in the Cumberland Plateau, 1880-1930], Southern History website, 2003.</ref>
Between the 1930's and the 1960's, Tennessee's coal production fluctuated at 5-6 million tons per year; however, throughout that period, employment dropped precipitously, due to increasing mechanization. In the 1970's, coal mining boomed, and production peaked at 11.2 million tons per year in 1972; strip mining in general, and [[Mountaintop removal|mountaintop removal mining]] in particular, became much more important during the 70's. Since then, production has declined rapidly, especially since 1990, with the rise of Powder River Basin coal; in 2006, the state produced 2.8 million tons of coal.<ref>[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=M104 Mining], Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 1998.</ref>
In 1933, President Roosevelt created the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]], a public power company built with the aim of creating economic development in the Tennessee River Valley of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. The TVA relied heavily on coal power, and private companies were unable to compete with this public utility. Today, the TVA owns 42 coal-fired power plants in Tennessee, which produce a massive 97.4% of all coal power generated in the state. Out of these 42 coal plants that the TVA owns, all but three were built before 1960.<ref name="EIA"/>
SW: →History: moved section
===August 13, 2009: "Going Away Party" for National Coal Corporation in Knoxville, TV===
An employee with [[National Coal Corporation]] forcefully removed a non-violent anti-mountaintop removal protester from the National Coal headquarters in West Knoxville. The protester was part of a group participating in “Love and Hug National Coal Month,” part of a series of protests organized by [http://www.unitedmountaindefense.org/ United Mountain Defense] every Thursday in August at National Coal’s office. The protesters had organized a “Going Away Party” for NCC after the coal company defaulted on $60 million dollars of loans in Alabama in July 2009. To mark this event the protestors brought balloons and cupcakes reading “Bye National Coal’ and “Take a Hike”. Wearing party hats and dancing to festive music, the volunteers entered the National Coal Headquarters in order to deliver the cupcakes. Within 30 seconds an employee of National Coal Corporation wrapped his hand around the video camera, contorted the cameraman’s wrist and escorted the peaceful group back outside, at which point he stated that NCC did not want to call the police. The non-violent protesters complied with the National Coal employee’s request and moved to the public right of way in front of the office building. They educated passing motorists, gave away the unwanted cupcakes, danced, and had a fun time in the hot sun.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JFFrJ9NCoU "Hug and Love National Coal Number 2 protest 8 0001,"] Youtube, accessed September 2009</ref><Ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU7MViQoxEQ&feature=related "Love & Hug National Coal Month- Going Away Party,"] YouTube, accessed September 2009</ref>
==Legislative issues==
