Friends of Coal-KY

Friends of Coal Kentucky educates on coal's role in powering lives, supporting jobs, and boosting communities.

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Volunteer mine rescue teams from across Kentucky are competing through June 5 at the State Mine Rescue Competition in Lexington — the men and women called to an emergency before the rest of us know one has happened. Cheer your local team. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Coal ash is in the concrete in our bridges, the wallboard in our homes, and the soil on our farms. EPA has proposed easing its rules so more of it gets put to work. Public comments are open through June 12. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Last week Friends of Coal sponsored a STEM field trip for Belfry Middle School — grades 5–8 — to Portal 31, the exhibition coal mine in Lynch. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

This Sunday in Lexington, volunteer mine rescue teams from across Kentucky compete in the State Mine Rescue Competition — timed drills and underground scenarios, May 31–June 5. These are the highly trained men and women who stand ready for fellow miners. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

This Memorial Day, Friends of Coal honors the men and women who served our country.

We remember them with gratitude and pride. If your family has someone who served, share their name below. #FriendsOfCoal #MemorialDay

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

This Memorial Day, Kentucky's coal counties remember the men and women who served and didn't come home. Breathitt County was the only U.S. county to fill its WWI quota entirely with volunteers — a tradition that runs through every coalfield hollow. #FriendsOfCoal #MemorialDay

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Volunteer mine rescue teams from across Kentucky head to Central Bank Center in Lexington May 31 through June 5 for the State Mine Rescue Competition. These are the men and women called to an emergency before the rest of us know one has happened. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Matthew Weisenberger's team at UK's Center for Applied Energy Research is turning Kentucky coal into the synthetic graphite inside every EV battery — about 165 pounds of graphite per car, ten to fifteen times more than the lithium. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Every American-made beam and bridge starts somewhere. A lot of it starts with a miner in Eastern Kentucky. Four generations in, we’re still doing the work. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal #CoalCountry #EasternKY

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Spring in Kentucky’s coalfields just hits different. Redbuds on the ridges. Dogwoods in the hollers. Storms rolling over the mountains at sundown. Through it all, the lights stay on. Send us a photo from where you are — we’d love to see it. #FriendsOfCoal #CoalPowersKY #EasternKY

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Every spring, coal-country students apply for scholarships funded by Kentucky's most popular specialty plate. Send us a picture. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Mother's Day weekend in Kentucky. Across the Commonwealth, mothers fill every kind of role: engineers, operators, technicians, safety, leaders. Thank you to every Kentucky mom. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Kentucky's mine rescue teams are training for the KMI State Mine Rescue Competition — May 31 through June 5 at Central Bank Center in Lexington. These miners volunteer the time. Hats off. #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Coal-community students: the Kentucky Coal County College Completion Scholarship is open. Awards up to $6,800/yr (varies by school), 60 credit hours, FAFSA required. Start at MyKHEAA. #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Friday in coal country. What makes your hometown feel like home? Share a photo of your spot in the comments. #KYCoal #CoalCountry

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Scholarships open for KY coal community students ⛏️

• Coal County Pharmacy Scholarship
• WIRE Scholarship (deadline June 5)
Apply via MyKHEAA or your school’s aid office.

#FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal #ScholarshipSeason

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Kentucky is one of seven states that mine metallurgical coal — the kind used to make steel. U.S. met coal exports rose in Q1 2026 as overseas steelmakers kept buying. #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Redbud on the ridgelines of Harlan. Dogwood Trail through Dawson Springs. Morels east, bass west. Spring in Kentucky's coalfields hits different. Share your pictures. #FriendsOfCoal #KYCoal

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

Earth Day in coal country means reclamation. $280M+ in AMLER funding since 2016 has turned former mine lands into ball fields, industrial parks, trails, and community water projects across Kentucky. #FriendsOfCoal #EarthDay

[Friends of Coal-KY @FriendsofCoalKY]

That's a wrap on Hillbilly Days 2026. Congrats to the Friends of Coal Billy Finder Scavenger Hunt winners, and thank you to Pikeville for another weekend of music, community, and Shriners charity. #HillbillyDays