Alpha Natural Resources is an American coal mining company that was founded in 2002 and is based in Bristol, Virginia. The company operates mines in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Alpha Natural Resources is one of the largest producers of metallurgical coal, which is used in the steel-making process, and thermal coal, which is used to generate electricity. The company also produces and sells limestone, which is used in construction, agriculture, and other industries. In 2015, Alpha Natural Resources filed for bankruptcy and emerged from it in 2016. The company has faced challenges with the increasing shift towards cleaner energy and the decline in demand for coal.