Illinois coal industry puzzles over incentive plan

摘要

Coal producers and utilities in Illinois are pondering whether state legislators' plans to foster greater use of the state's coal will have the intended effect. Supporters of the plan, which was unveiled last week, say that by eliminating a rule allowing utilities to pass on Powder River basin (PRB) coal transportation costs to ratepayers, power plants will turn back to in-state coal and possibly save taxpayers $1bn. But industry members told Argus they are not yet certain of that.