The simple answer is: Oil prices make coal so much more competitive. The economics are all on coal.

The economics of our recent national situation, with oil and natural gas prices — that's the big part of it. We're very proud of what people have done (in Viroqua). We feel it's very unfortunate this decision had to be made. We wish we didn't have to do this, but we have to stay in a position where we can be a leader and compete in the industry.

Where most of these (new) mines are going, the areas are fairly well depressed, so you'll have people vying for those jobs.

I told them that we were very proud of what they had done and asked if they wanted to participate in anything that would acknowledge that.

By the fall of 1918, it was clear that a nation's prosperity, even its very survival, depended on securing a safe, abundant supply of cheap oil.

There's been a big shift in economics. The market's gotten very competitive, and broadband pricing has come down.