Over the past decade, coal power plants and mines have downsized and closed in Illinois, often leaving impacted communities without a plan to replace their tax revenue or jobs.

To help support Illinois’ coal communities and displaced workers, federal and state agencies are enacting an economic and workforce development program for impacted communities around the state. Through this free webinar, University of Illinois Extension will partner with Illinois Prairie Rivers Network and the Just Transition Fund to share tools, resources, and ideas on available funding and retraining programs available.

"Energy Transitions: Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation in Illinois" will discuss the history, current status, and future of the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program in Illinois and the program's importance to addressing the physical safety and environmental threats of un-reclaimed mine lands.

Additionally, explore:

• The outcomes of potential new federal infrastructure funds on the Illinois AML program
• Employment implications
• Opportunities for communities who prioritize abandoned mine land reclamation

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Nancy Ouedraogo at esarey@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.