A new report forecasts continued major export growth for the Illinois coal industry due to the state’s large volumes of coal, competitive prices and access to prime water and land transportation routes. Illinois is now the fifth largest coal producing state in the U.S., up from ninth in 2009. The industry supports more than 4,000 jobs in Illinois. The report and its recommendations support Governor Quinn’s five-year plan to double exports by 2014 and to continue providing an export-friendly business climate in Illinois.
