May 14, 2016 - Illinois State Senator Andy Manar's (D-Bunker Hill) plan to re-invest in clean coal would help jolt the industry that has endured a crippling decrease over the years.

'The coal industry was a major source of income and jobs for the rural parts of our state. When it started to slow down, thousands of jobs were downsized and many mines were closed,' said Manar. 'Investing in clean coal technology and creating a system for those companies to partner with local utility companies will give this industry a much-needed boost.'

The plan, Senate Bill 3426, would create the Clean Coal Technology Development and Utilization Fund and call for greater investments in clean coal producers on behalf of the state. The fund would then be solely used to fund clean coal project investments by the Illinois Finance Authority.

In addition, the measure requires that local utility companies utilize energy created by the clean coal sites as a source of power for their customers.

'This plan is a two-fold investment. It provides the capital to create clean coal projects, as well as the customer base to sustain the projects there afterwards,' said Manar.

Senate Bill 3426 is currently pending in the Illinois Senate. 

Illinois State Senator Andy Manar