A coalition of lawmakers from downstate Illinois say they plan to introduce legislation to spur growth in the state's coal industry.
They say their plan would create 8,000 new jobs, save money for electricity rate payers and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The proposal seeks to remove regulations allowing electric companies to shift the cost of importing Western states' coal to electric customers, making it cheaper for Illinois power plants to burn coal.
The proposal outlined Thursday also would establish a revenue stream that could be used to reduce environmentally harmful emissions.
