A southern Illinois coal company’s fight to dump mine water into a nearby river is a sign of things to come, experts say, as the industry looks to cut costs to stay afloat amid worsening market conditions. A recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) predicts coal production in the Illinois Basin, which underlies Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky, will largely disappear within two decades. The area is particularly at risk because its coal is burned in power plants and not used for industrial purposes like steel-making, the report notes. “They’re trying to cut regulations and to cut corners,” IEEFA energy data analyst Seth Feaster said of the coal industry. “Whatever they can do to try to cut their costs, they’re doing, because that’s the only way they can stay competitive.” To view the full article visit the Energy News Network.
