Waterway transportation plays a key role in the movement of coal from extraction sites to end-use locations like power plants.

Waterway transportation is a critical component of the coal industry, as it efficiently moves large quantities of coal from mining regions to power plants, industrial facilities, and export terminals. Barges are commonly used to transport coal along rivers such as the Ohio and Mississippi, which provide a cost-effective, fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendlier alternative to trucking or rail for bulk transport. This allows the coal industry to keep transportation costs low while ensuring a steady supply of coal for electricity generation and other industrial applications. The waterways system is essential for maintaining the competitiveness and efficiency of the U.S. coal sector.