This chart shows the scale of political donations from the coal mining industry as divided between the Democratic and Republican parties. The coal mining industry donates overwhelmingly to the Republican side with Romney's 2012 campaign receiving 90.4% of the total donated funds whilst Obama's campaign receiving only 9.6%. Coal powers 45% of the American electricity grid, so for all of us who use standard electricity, like it or not, we all have a little Republican party political donation quietly included in every electricity bill. Powering your home with solar and choosing an energy efficient lifestyle is not just about carbon emissions, it's also political act.