History of Illinois Coal Mining
Watch Illinois’ history with coal. The video features slavery, prosperity, and uprisings & disasters that led to labor & environmental laws.
Support Eco-Justice Collaborative
The Middle Fork of the Vermilion, Illinois’ only National Scenic River, is threatened by coal ash pollution. Help us ensure the protection of this river!
Illinois Ranks First in the Country
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Button_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Illinois Has More Coal Ash Disposal Sites Than Any Other State Illinois generates more than 4.4 million tons of coal ash EVERY YEAR, and imports coal ash (or coal combustion waste) from six or more other states. Illinois ranks first in the nation with respect to the […]
Illinois Subsidizes Coal
Illinois subsidizes coal nearly $20 million each year despite the fact that it has a budget deficit of over $9 billion. Isn’t it time that coal companies paid their faire share?
Support Coal-Producing Communities
Why should communities benefit from a coal severance tax? When companies pull out, or changes in production cause substantial job loss, communities experience spikes in unemployment, and loss of business and trade.
PROTECT THE MIDDLE FORK
Over a 55-year period, Illinois Power and its successor Dynegy constructed and operated three separate coal ash disposal pits, depositing over 3.3 million cubic yards of coal ash waste. These three coal ash pits are located in the western floodplain of the Middle Fork. Two of the pits are unlined and actively leaching into underlying groundwater. One is lined, but is located over underground voids created by prior coal mining.
Dynegy closed the power plant in 2001. Today, the Dynegy Vermilion site is a toxic waste dump – not an operating power plant.