Coal mining is a vital industry, not only in the State of Illinois but for the United States as a whole. Even though #coalmining poses a risk to the environment, its advantages outweigh its disadvantages.

The #Illinois state's coal basin is one of the most productive and oldest in the United States. This coal basin has the second-largest US coal reserve, and it produces sulfur-rich bituminous coal. This type of coal, however, pollutes the environment and has been put on varying degrees of emission restrictions by the US government.

There are arguments that coal mining should be banned in Illinois, but this isn't the right step. Banning coal mining won't stop #climatechange or #carbonemission because other operating industries based in the state will continue to cause emissions as long as they are not using renewable energy sources.

Coal mining has supplied the US with electricity for decades. Although the coal market has been grossly affected by external factors such as competition from cheap natural gas, emission restrictions, and a host of other factors, the coal market is looking to export its coal production to the external market, meaning that the US economy would improve significantly.

The banning of coal mining in Illinois puts #coalminers out of work, which creates an unemployment issue for the state, adding to the overall employment deficit the country already faces. Other businesses that rely on coal mining would also be significantly affected, creating a further economic decline in the state and country.

The cost of electricity and other amenities can rise as cheap coal is no longer used to generate electricity, which results in more negative impacts for many Illinois residents.

Banning coal mining in Illinois is not a remedy to an environmental problem. A ban on coal mining will create other problems with the potential to cause further negative climatic and environmental change.