I believe "Paradise" was written about plain vanilla strip mining; mountaintop removal is called "strip mining on steroids" and came somewhat later.

Actually, I see Wikipedia has an article on Paradise, Kentucky. It says that in addition to the strip mining, the Tennessee Valley Authority (power cooperative) and built a coal power plant there. They bought out what remained of the town soon afterward after the plant was found to be a health hazard.

~ Becky in Long Beach