(PA) Anthracite shortage as fuel goes overseas

[phantom power]

F.M. Brown's Sons Inc. has sold anthracite coal from its location at 717 Lancaster Ave. since 1920 and has never turned away a new customer.

"That's until this year," said Kelly Brown, assistant manager of the farm feed and fuel company that has been operating in Berks County since 1843.

Brown said a variety of factors - not the least of which is that China, India and other Asian countries are buying up more than half the 6 billion tons of coal burned each year - have led to an anthracite coal shortage in Berks.

...

"We're experiencing a big-time shortage," she said. "And it's probably going to continue for five to eight years, based on what we're hearing."

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