When did coal become a major energy or a fuel resource?
Coal is really one of the first fuels that moved us away from biomass fuel. Some archaeologists have shown coal use to predate Homo sapiens! and using it for energy, fire that is, may have helped propel the new species forward. It’s immediate predecessor was simply peat moss. Of course wide scale mining advanced with the Industrial Revolution, but then prior to that all of mankind’s endeavors were born on the backs of Slaves and pack animals. Coal has always been a major energy source, but new technology has moved beyond it. Some will debate that it should be abandoned as a fuel, while others say it is most sensible to use the fuel we have rather than buy cleaner oil derived fuel from abroad. Countries which use little coal tend to make up the difference with Nuclear power, while the United States hasn’t built a new Nuclear power plant in 30 years. I often question if the only way to get off of fossil fuel is to use it all up. I hope we’re smarter than that!
