Mountaintop removal mining is justifiably getting a lot of attention. It's an irreversible disaster that will shame the energy industry for generations. But, sometimes it's frustrating how little attention is focused on problems with modern mining in Illinois.
That's what makes Reckoning at Eagle Creek so refreshing and essential. It tells the ugly side of the Illinois coal industry's past and present that's talked about quietly now and then, but rarely breaks through the industry's dominance of politicians and press. It's exciting for people like me whose ancestors mined Illinois coalfields.
Besides being an entertaining writer, Biggers' is an exciting storyteller. He retold a story in his book about company executives taking young state Senator Barack Obama golfing in Southern Illinois to sell the myth of clean coal. He admits that mine employment peaked in the 1920's and only employs about 3,000 Illinois miners today. He doesn't hide the fact that mining rights are owned by Chicago investors who keep Southern Illinois as a poor vassal to Chicago's energy needs.
Biggers has been working on Appalachian coal issues for years. He told me after the reading that he's going to put more focus on his home state of Illinois. That's good news when even the owners of media outlets are joining the FutureGen alliance. We need more courageous truth-tellers.
If you missed him this time I'm sure you'll get another chance to hear Jeff Biggers in Springfield. He does a Peoria reading on February 21, and Carbondale on March 6. Check here for details. You can also follow his articles on Huffington Post.