Importance of Coal Part of the cause of California's energy crisis has been the rising cost of natural gas. In its place, NPR's Jack Speer reports that now coal -- once written off as an energy source of last-resort -- is again becoming one of the nation's most important sources of electrical power.

Importance of Coal

Importance of Coal

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Part of the cause of California's energy crisis has been the rising cost of natural gas. In its place, NPR's Jack Speer reports that now coal — once written off as an energy source of last-resort — is again becoming one of the nation's most important sources of electrical power.