This article examines the way in which energy and greenhouse issues were considered in 68 environmental impact statements (EISs) prepared between 1974 and 1997 for 29 coal mining projects in the Hunter Valley of NSW. The coal industry and associated electricity generation produce about half of Australian production of greenhouse gases and much larger greenhouse emissions result from coal exported to other countries. The EISs indicate that the combined greenhouse emissions from all 29 operating and proposed mines in the Hunter Valley could represent between 1.0 per cent and 1.5 per cent of annual global carbon emissions due to world wide use of fossil fuels.