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Ill. Coal Industry: EPA Emission Regulations "Unfair"

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The head of an Illinois coal industry trade group is panning President Barack Obama's plans for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unveiled the proposed regulations on Monday in an effort to cut power-plant carbon dioxide emissions. The Illinois Coal Association's Phil Gonet calls them ``unfair.'' He says the rules could squeeze the supply of U.S. electricity, raising rates.

Gonet calls the issue a global one that doesn't account for storied pollution by power plants in coal-craving countries such as China and India.  
And he says the EPA's push could blunt a surge in mining in Illinois, the nation's fifth-biggest coal producer.  
Gonet says legal challenges could prevent the regulations from taking place, and ``we will challenge it every step of the way.''

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