I have to disagree with Rand here. First, it's market forces, not Federal policy that's hurting the coal industry. The frackers have made natural gas cheap and plentiful (for now). It's not difficult for an electric utility to convert coal plants to gas or vice versa. They do this as market conditions warrant and the markets are telling utilities to use gas now.
Second, coal is a filthy, polluting fuel. It causes great environmental damage to mine it and great environmental damage to burn it. It's use should be discouraged as much as possible.