T-L?File Photo ALONG?THE?River the coal industry has continued to spark Consol Energy Inc. With a demand for natural resources, Consol Energy’s Tom?Hoffman believes the company’s coal-fired power plants would be difficult to ever replace with so many using it throughout the world. Shown is one of of many locations along the Ohio River.

By JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH
For The Times Leader

    MOUNDSVILLE — The world is growing, despite the global economic crisis, and Consol Energy Inc. plans to meet its growing need for energy.
    ’’I think it’s reasonable to believe the demand for natural resources, particularly energy, will continue to be strong,” said Tom Hoffman, senior vice president of External Affairs for Consol. ’’Big, developing countries like India, China and Indonesia, with growing populations, are increasing their standard of living, and they will continue to want to do that.”
    Based on the fact that about half of all the electricity currently generated in the United States comes from coal-fired power plants, Hoffman said it would be difficult to replace coal with any other fuel or method of generation.