As someone who would like to leave a liveable planet for future generations, I am offended, not by any of the residents of Harrisburg, but by the failure of local, state and national officials to stop coal mining and find ways to remediate the economic gaps left by its absence. Coal is the single most destructive source of energy, because of the CO2 added to the atmosphere when it is burnt. We have no right to deny future generations their own lives on planet Earth. This means that we all have to change our ways of life right now, and for people directly affected by industrial transformations, it means we have to find solutions. It's not about blaming anyone, nor should it be about harming anyone. Still, we know now that central aspects of our industrial system really do have to change.

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Thanks for this excellent reporting, Kari. I remember going on field trips as a kid to learn about the coal industry. Reporting like yours lets us see the fuller picture, from the proud and hard working miners to the angry people living next to the coal plants to the struggling cities left holding the debt and toxic waste when companies bail. We can and do need to fight for the future of energy manufacturing in Illinois, and to take care of the people, from Southern Illinois to Chicago, who are being left behind by these companies.

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