Coal reserves are beds of coal still in the ground waiting to be mined. The United States has the world's largest known coal reserves, about 267.6  billion short tons.  This is enough coal to last approximately 236 years at today's level of use.

Coal production is the amount of coal that is mined and sent to market. In 2005, the amount of coal produced at U.S. coal mines reached an all time high of 1,131.5 million short tons. Coal is mined in 27 states. Wyoming mines the most coal, followed by West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Texas.Coal is mainly found in three large regions, the Appalachian Coal Region, the Interior Coal Region, and Western Coal Region (includes the Powder River Basin).

Coal Production in Three Regions,2005
Millions of Short Tons
1,131.5 million short tons

Appalachian Coal Region: 

• More than one-third of the coal produced in the U.S. is produced in the Appalachian Coal Region.
• West Virginia is the largest coal-producing state in the region, and the second largest coal-producing state in the U.S.
• Large underground mines and small surface mines.
• Coal mined in the Appalachian coal region is primarily used for steam generation for electricity, metal production, and for export.

Interior Coal Region: 

• In 2005, Texas was the largest coal producer in the Interior Coal Region, accounting for about one-third of the region’s coal production.
• Mid-sized surface mines.
• Mid- to large-sized companies.

Western Coal Region: 

• Over half of the coal produced in the U.S. is produced in the Western Coal Region.
• Wyoming is the largest regional coal producer, as well as the largest coal-producing state in the nation.
• Large surface mines.
• Some of the largest coal mines in the world.

ZDROJ: http://www.eia.doe.gov, http://smtc.uwyo.edu