Adopt IL Coal Tax Amid Budget Crisis?
Illinois is “broke”. Coal mining production is on the decline. Why adopt a coal severance tax now?
Illinois is “broke”. Coal mining production is on the decline. Why adopt a coal severance tax now?
PROTECT THE MIDDLE FORK FROM COAL ASH POLLUTION The campaign goal is to ensure that Dynegy-Midwest Generation moves its toxic coal ash out of the floodplain of Illinois’ only National Scenic River and places it in properly-constructed, lined facilities on their property, far from the river. READ MORE REINVEST IN ILLINOIS’ HEARTLAND The primary campaign […]
“This isn’t coal country. Not anymore. The coal still comes out of the ground, but without many workers.” Mechanized mining is leaving its workers behind.
Today, Illinois communities are facing a critical question: Are we willing to bet our economy and its workers on an industry that won’t last?
Benld, once a thriving coal-mining town, is sinking. Pam Richart said a 5% tax on the value of coal could be used to repair and replace infrastructure.
An Illinois coal severance tax can benefit communities who experience the “boom and bust” cycles of coal mining by providing funds for workforce training; environmental clean-up; and infrastructure.
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?
Eco-Justice Collaborative is working with the Community Futures Initiative, a state-wide effort whose purpose is to build support for an Illinois coal severance tax that would bring the majority of revenues back to coal-producing communities.
With its increased production, Illinois now ranks 4th among all coal-producing states in the country. Recoverable reserves at producing mines have been estimated to be 2.5 billion short tons, greater than those of any other state east of the Mississippi River.
Eco-Justice Collaborative is working with the Community Futures Initiative (CFI), a statewide effort supporting a coal tax primarily for the benefit of communities in active coal-mining areas.