More than Just A Documentary

Review by Megan Perdue

Coal in Kentucky is an hour-long documentary providing a comprehensive overview of the role of the coal industry in historical and contemporary Kentucky society. Individuals from the coal industry, environmental activists, politicians, scholars and citizens weave a cohesive analysis of coal issues facing Kentucky today.

Presented by the University of Kentucky’s Center for Visualization and Virtual Environments and the Department of Mining Engineering, Coal in Kentucky is a well-rounded venture that focuses on the coal industry, highlighting its costs and benefits to the region while also addressing mountaintop removal coal mining issues.

Though the film does not come to any definitive conclusions about the future role of coal in Kentucky, commentators in the film insist that the demand for energy will keep coal alive until renewable energy resources are economically feasible for most of the country.