Let’s get the big question out of the way right up front: Is thermal coal a dying industry in the United States? Yes, but…
The “but” is important, because the death of thermal coal is a very long-term forecast. And there’s a lot of room between now and the eventual demise for a well-situated and well-run miner like Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP) to make a lot of money for investors. Here’s what you need to know about the thermal coal industry’s past, its outlook for the future, and why you should do a deep dive on Alliance.