Central and especially southern Illinois sits on some of the richest coal mining territory in the world. Only trouble is is that Illinois coal, although higher in energy BTU's, is dirtier than most - sending the eco-greenies into a tizzy. With improved smoke-scrubbing technology these days, Illinois coal is poised to make a huge comback.
Every day until he died, my grandpa would cough and hack up a lung, a result of working in the mines here in central IL when he was five (back in the day before child labor laws).
I think if the demand for Illinois coal really zooms, watch for the Canadian National Railroad to seriously look at buying a whole bunch of AC locomotives to support coal mine operations in southern Illinois on the former Illinois Central Railroad lines.