Air Quality Mine closes, cuts jobs

KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Over 200 employees in the Wabash Valley will soon lose their jobs.

Peabody Energy announced Wednesday that they will close their Air Quality Mine in Vincennes.

The mining industry along with other utilities make up most of the jobs in Knox County.

The local economic development corporation said losing 230 of those positions hurts, especially since coal mining generates electricity and will also hurt the utility business.

The decision comes after negative economic conditions.

Although it's not an entire shock to most folks we spoke to, as the coal mining industry has been going through some difficult times, it will be difficult to replace the level of pay in the local economy.

"The loss of this magnitude of very high paying jobs for our area is certainly a tremendous economic blow to the area economically. And it has a tremendous ripple effect as well," Knox County Development Corporation President Gary Gentry said.

Employees have 60 days to plan for the job transition.

Peabody Energy is working with employees to place them at other locations.

Gentry said, fortunately, they have been blessed with recent new industry and expansion, so it helps take some of the sting out of it.