The coal systems at Abbott power plant date back to the 1930s, and require extremely high levels of investment to keep operating reliably―The University of Illinois Energy Task Force commissioned a report that anticipated a need of approximately $205 million over the next 15 years, mostly needed for the coal system. Abandoning coal use would allow this money to be used to retire the campus energy debt, fund aggressive energy conservation, and install renewable energy.
Students for Environmental Concerns' lead coal organizer Parker Laubach said, "It makes no sense for the University to shovel money into the coal boilers when it has made a commitment to climate neutrality. Schools across the country, like UW-Madison, Cornell and Stanford have committed to stop burning coal―it is past time for us to show leadership here."
They even got a little TV coverage.
UIUC is already behind the Eastern Illinois University campus. EIU is building a renewable energy center, which will allow them to abandon coal in favor of a biomass steam plant. If March Madness were a clean energy competition, EIU would beat the Illini in round one.
In case you're wondering, the U of I-Springfield campus doesn't have a coal boiler.