The End of Coal

My name is Daniel Lombardi and I am seeking support for a multi-year project to document the daily lives of families intricately tied to a vanishing industry. My work will take place primarily in the winter seasons in the American West. Contact me with any comments or questions: 406-560-5843 & danielombardi@gmail.com

Market forces, regulation and automation are all closing coal power stations years and decades ahead of schedule. In the end, thousands of people will lose their jobs and entire towns will disappear. This will be seen as a pivotal moment in world history and we are obligated to document it.

Humanity is destined to shift away from unsustainable fossil fuels that pollute the air and alter the climate. On average the world will be more prosperous without the burning of fossil fuels. But some will suffer through this transition.

In the broad view of history economists look back and call this process “Creative Destruction.” That is, economic growth is messy and often, or always, comes at the expense of a few. Cox and Alm explain it well in the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics:

“Herein lies the paradox of progress. A society cannot reap the rewards of creative destruction without accepting that some individuals might be worse off, not just in the short term, but perhaps forever. At the same time, attempts to soften the harsher aspects of creative destruction by trying to preserve jobs or protect industries will lead to stagnation and decline, short-circuiting the march of progress... ...capitalism’s pain and gain are inextricably linked. The process of creating new industries does not go forward without sweeping away the preexisting order.”

The room is silent save for the distant hum of the power plant where Ryan Blomback just finished his night shift. His wife Elizabeth sits in the background. This town, where Elizabeth grew up, was built by coal and wouldn’t exist without the plant and the mine. As we sit in the living room a low rumble shakes the house, the TV wobbles on its stand, a blast from the mine breaking another layer of coal loose from the earth.

Elizabeth works on an off in the shop offices for the coal mine. Ryan works cleaning the exhaust scrubbers at the power plant. They make good money and the living expenses are low but they are unsure of the long term viability of Coalstrip.

The coal plant smoke stacks, emitting greenhouse gases 24/7, are the tallest man-made structures in all of Montana and impose themselves subtly on the skyline from anywhere around the small town of Coalstrip.

The coal plant smoke stacks, emitting greenhouse gases 24/7, are the tallest man-made structures in all of Montana and impose themselves subtly on the skyline from anywhere around the small town of Coalstrip.

The coal plant smoke stacks, emitting greenhouse gases 24/7, are the tallest man-made structures in all of Montana and impose themselves subtly on the skyline from anywhere around the small town of Coalstrip.

Working in the Coal fired power plant is a hot and dirty job but the pay is good. Ryan started out making $24 an hour with many opportunities for overtime. But he was the last employee to be hired and could be the first to be let go if the plant closes half of its units ahead of schedule. In the portraits below he poses for me and momentarily lets his tiresome night schedule pull his gaze into the distance.

The room is silent save for the distant hum of the power plant where Ryan Blomback just finished his night shift. His wife Elizabeth sits in the background. This town, where Elizabeth grew up, was built by coal and wouldn’t exist without the plant and the mine. As we sit in the living room a low rumble shakes the house, the TV wobbles on its stand, a blast from the mine breaking another layer of coal loose from the earth.