Trucks carrying coal to China. Coal remains a critical component of the world’s energy supply, despite its bad image. In China, demand for coal in 2010 resulted in a traffic jam 75 miles long caused by more than 10,000 trucks carrying supplies from Inner Mongolia. The biggest attraction is low cost. By many estimates, burning coal still costs about one-third as much as using renewable energy like wind or solar, a factor in sustained worldwide demand for coal.
Article source: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/11/17/business/weekly-business-photos.html?partner=rss&emc=rss