Coal is king in Craig, Colorado, a small town about 40 miles west of Steamboat Springs and 200 miles northwest of Denver. Residents say the environmental group WildEarth Guardians unfairly targeted Colowyo, a coal mine near town, in a recent lawsuit they fear could shut down the mine.
A farm outside of Craig, Colo. in the northwestern part of the state on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. The Craig Station coal-fired power plant is visible in the background.
Downtown Craig, Colorado early on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
James Vaughan, right, blocks a shot from Cory Carson, center, as Caleb Herndon, left, watches at City Park in Craig, Colo. on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
A coal train moves through the edge of Craig, Colo. on its way to the Craig Station coal-fired power plant on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
A coal train enters the Craig Station power plant near Craig, Colo. on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
Electrical transmissions lines carry power from the Craig Station coal-fired power plant near Craig, Colo. on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
Craig, Colo. in northwestern Colorado is nestled underneath Cedar Mountain.
Shirley Balleck owns The Flower Mine Gift Shop in Craig, Colo. and is the main distributor of pro-coal signs that are seen throughout the city.
Clyde Hettinger, owner of Dark Horse Discount Liquor in Craig, Colo., talks with store manager Becky Peed on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Hettinger pulled all New Belgium Brewing beer off his shelves in protest of donations the brewery made to WildEarth Guardians, an environmental group.
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Reclaimed land at the Colowyo Mine about 30 miles south of Craig, Colo. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
The Colowyo Mine about 30 miles south of Craig, Colo. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
The active coal mining pit at Colowyo Mine is about 500 feet deep.
Many businesses around Craig, including corporate entities like Walgreens, are vocal about their support for the local coal industry.
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