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We generate a lot of electricity by burning coal here in the United States. Estimates range from 37% to as much as 50%. The numbers have changed recently due to the huge amount of fracked natural gas being produced.
Despite the ugly side of coal, one cannot ignore that it is an abundant domestic energy source that provides a lot of economic activity in the United States.
Here's an update on a coal ash spill that occurred a few years ago as well as a very recent one.
Scientific American - Coal Ash Article and Video
Here's a link to a Sierra Club article on coal ash.
http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/coalash/map.aspx
