Peabody Energy Earns Good Neighbor Honor for Providing Energy Assistance to St. Louis...

Peabody Energy Earns Good Neighbor Honor for Providing Energy Assistance to
St. Louis Needy

ST. LOUIS, June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) today
received a Good Neighbor Award from Heat-Up St. Louis at the energy assistance
charity's annual recognition ceremony. Peabody was honored for contributions
to help families throughout the St. Louis region stay warm last winter.

Heat-Up St. Louis is an all-volunteer, seasonal energy assistance and advocacy
group that helps low-income families in 17 Missouri and Illinois counties pay
electric and natural gas home heating bills. A sister organization, Cool-Down
St. Louis, provides energy assistance and free air conditioners during the
summer months.

U.S. Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond and Heat-Up St. Louis and Cool-Down St.
Louis Honorary Board Chairs Francis G. Slay, St. Louis Mayor, and Charlie
Dooley, St. Louis County Executive, are presenting awards to Peabody Energy
and other honorees AmerenUE and Schnucks Supermarkets at the event.

"While we've had a very cool spring, temperatures are again climbing well into
the 90s this week in St. Louis. But weather in our region can also reach
dangerous lows in the winter, and our neediest neighbors may make the choice
between heating and eating," said Sharon Fiehler, Peabody Energy Executive
Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. "Energy is essential for
life, and we are proud to support the good work of Heat-Up St. Louis. Peabody
has a longstanding heritage of fueling affordable energy for tens of millions
of people around the world."

Gentry W. Trotter, Founder and Executive Director of both Heat-Up St. Louis
and Cool-Down St. Louis, noted that Peabody Energy is among the major
contributors to the organization.

"In these difficult economic times, many of our neighbors are struggling to
provide the basic needs for their families," said Trotter. "Peabody is helping
to fill a critical need in our community, bringing low-cost energy options to
families, seniors and the disabled. That makes BTU a terrific neighbor in St.
Louis."

Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) is the world's largest private-sector coal company,
with 2008 sales of 256 million tons and $6.6 billion in revenues. Its coal
products fuel 10 percent of all U.S. electricity generation and 2 percent of
worldwide electricity.

CONTACT:
Meg Gallagher
(314) 342-7963

SOURCE Peabody Energy

Meg Gallagher of Peabody Energy, +1-314-342-7963