Below the surface
Most of us don't think about where our energy comes from. But in Appalachia and the Powder River Basin, mining coal is a way of life that can create both pride and passion.
A 2011 Special Report
It’s not just a rock. It’s power. It’s people. It’s a relationship.
This project is an experiment in journalistic storytelling.
It is best experienced as an interactive film. If you prefer, browse below to view each story separately.
In the air
Generating electricity can pollute the air we breathe, causing illness and even death. Neighbors of coal-fired power plants are fighting for cleaner air. Air pollutants can also travel, damaging health in other states.
Close to home
We rely on coal in everyday life. When we switch on the lights, call our friends on the phone or turn on the faucet, we're using coal. You might be surprised at how much coal you use and where it comes from.
Inside the Story
From 30,000 feet
See the big picture in our complicated love affair with coal, grasp the details at ground level, then back up to expand your view.
Official trailer
2010 STORIES
On the edge
Venice, La., faces extinction. The BP oil spill has threatened the small fishing community's livelihood.
Inside the Story
Energy cocktail
Can you supply enough energy for America while balancing carbon emissions and costs?
Inside the Story
Nuclear properties
Part of the U.S. energy portfolio for more than 30 years, nuclear power remains a divisive issue. Concerns about safety, costs and jobs continue to dominate the landscape.
Manufacturing change
As Detroit attempts to reinvigorate a failing economy, alternative energy pioneers have a chance to spark a new industry.
Blackout on the hill
President Obama brought to Washington the promise to rethink U.S. energy policy. Why, two years later, has no long-term comprehensive policy been put in place?
The power of water
Each year, Americans withdraw nearly half of their water resources to meet their growing energy demand, yet few realize the intrinsic connection between the two.
2009 STORIES
Climate Refugees
Reporter Anna York traveled to Newtok, Alaska, to see firsthand how the rising sea threatened the stability of the village and its residents.
Down the lines
As energy consumption increases, the construction of power lines has fallen behind, leaving the energy grid in jeopardy.
Debating coal’s future
The residents of Meigs County, Ohio are faced with the potential of a new coal plant, which could harm the community’s health but also create jobs.
The high energy diet
The food we eat is processed using a large amount of fossil fuels and often travels a long way before arriving on our plates.
Mining the mountains
Mountaintop removal is an increasingly contentious issue in West Virginia. Protesters, miners and legislators clash in Appalachia.
Inside the Story
Powering down
The Powering Down energy challenge gives you the tools you need to chart your energy use and target savings in your home.
Inside the Story
The power in plants
As efforts increase to lessen dependence on non-renewable energy sources, biofuels present a complex but perhaps viable alternative.
Reclaiming creation
Even in the secular, scientific realm of climate change and energy policy, religious faith could play a role.
Roping the wind
Farmers in Roscoe, Texas, missed out on the oil and gas boom, but they’re cashing in by placing wind turbines on their property.
The climate generation
Young people are at an added risk as climate change threatens their future. The nation’s youth are taking a more active role in trying to curb this threat.