Coal is an important part of electricity generation for both reliability and affordability. In 2025 coal usage in Alaska increased by 4.6 percent over 2024, showing its increasing use over other sources of energy. There’s only one active coal mine in Alaska, and that is Usibelli Coal Mine. Coal from Usibelli powers Alaska’s power plants, which power the homes and businesses of Alaska.
Usibelli produces approximately 1 million tons of coal annually and provides jobs for more than 100 employees, all Alaska residents. The coal mined in Alaska primarily goes to six coal power plants in the Interior of Alaska. Coal is vital to Alaska for keeping homes warm and businesses running.