The reopening of mines paves the way for increased production and new employment, particularly in small communities. This is why we celebrate Hallador Energy’s restarting of the Freelandville surface mine and beginning new work on the Prosperity mine, both in Indiana. Reclamation efforts are beginning at Prosperity but, as those efforts progress, more coal will be extracted through the process of bringing the land back to other uses. Between these two mines and current openings at other mines in Indiana, Hallador’s subsidiary Sunrise Coal is looking to hire up to 100 new employees, including providing sign-on retention bonuses for qualified employees. The two mines are expected to produce a combined 850,000 short tons of coal by the end of December 2023. Increased supplies of coal will help secure reliable energy to power our homes and businesses across America.
In addition to the mines, Hallador has recently acquired the Merom Power Plant. It’s expected that up to half of Sunrise’s coal production will go to the Merom Power Plant, which would secure long-term demand for their mines’ coal.