In the Vietnam War saga Platoon, Sgt. Elias tells young soldier Chris Taylor the U.S. is going to lose the war. “We been kicking other peoples a—- for so long, I figured it’s about time we got ours kicked.”

Coal has been kicking its share of tail for years as the country’s cheapest and most reliable energy source. But now coal is on the receiving end of the boot.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that natural gas will surpass coal as the nation’s largest energy source by 2035. If so, that’s great news for West Virginia’s rapidly growing Marcellus Shale gas industry, but devastating for the state’s coal country.

The signs of coal’s troubles are everywhere. Alpha Natural Resources, West Virginia’s largest coal producer, announced last week it may close up to 11 surface mines, idling up to 1,100 miners. Patriot Coal recently pink slipped 75 workers at two mines. Cliffs Natural Resources could be laying off as many as 450 miners later this month at its Wyoming County operation.

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