Illinois Coal Association

Background

The Illinois Coal Association is a coal lobbying group based in Springfield that "represents the coal industry in the state in governmental affairs, in public relations and in related matters." [1]

The Association is listed as a not-for-profit corporation that operates under policies set by its Board of Directors, a group made up of coal mining executives representing one hundred percent of the coal mining firms operating in the state of Illinois.

According to the Association, "coal is needed now more than ever. . . . Coal has been converted into a uniquely modern and versatile fuel - one mined through mechanization and by skilled workers and utilized in ways assuring the protection of the environment. . . .aside from the importance of coal in the energy picture, coal mining itself is one of America's traditionally basic industries." [2]

Stance on Climate Change

While they don't provide an official statement on climate change, The Illinois Coal Association is a sponsor of the Heartland Institute's Seventh International Conference on Climate Change which brings together climate change skeptics who "oppose global warming alarmism."

Funding

The Association is represented by members of all major coal companies in Illinois. See "Related Organizations" for a full list of member companies.

Between 2004 and 2012, the Association (which is registered to lobby in Illinois) contributed over $90,000 to a number of political candidates. [3]

Key People

• Phillip M. Gonet — President
• Donald E Coovert — Treasurer [6]
• Roger Dennison — 2010 Chairman Illinois Coal Association (Williamson Coal Company).
• Tom Austin — 2011 Chairman of the Illinois Coal Association (Springfield Coal Company).
• Kelly Spivey — Office Manager

Source: [4]

Actions

May 21 - 23, 2012

The Illinois Coal Association is registered as a co-sponsor of the Heartland Institute's Seventh International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC7) which has become a regular gathering of prominent climate change skeptics. [5]

Related Organizations

Member companies include:

• Alliance Coal, LLC
• The American Coal Company
• Consol Energy
• Springfield Coal Co., LLC
• Alpha Natural Resources
• International Coal Group - Illinois 
• Knight Hawk Coal, LLC
• Drummond Company, Inc.
• Prairie State Generating Co., LLC
• White Oak Resources
• MaRyan Coal Company
• Peabody Energy
• Arclar Coal Company
• Black Beauty Coal Company
• Coulterville Coal Company
• Vigo Coal Company
• Arch Coal, Inc.
• Williamson Development Co., LLC
• Hillsboro Energy, LLC
• Sugar Camp Coal Company

Resources

1. "Mission Statement," Illinois Coal Association. Accessed May 11, 2012.

2. "Coal In the Spotlight," Illinois Coal Association. Accessed May 11, 2012.

3. "ILLINOIS COAL ASSOCIATION," Contributor Summary, FollowTheMoney. Accessed May, 2012.

4. "Contact Information," Illinois Coal Association. Accessed May, 2012.

5. "Cosponsors," 7th International Conference on Climate Change. Accessed May, 2012. Archived May 11, 2012, with WebCite.

6. 2010 Form 990 for Illinois Coal Association (PDF). Retrieved from the Foundation Center.