ILLINOIS' STRINGENT MERCURY PROPOSAL MAY SERVE AS MODEL FOR STATES

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's (D) recent proposal to mandate stringent mercury emission cuts from power plants at levels far beyond those required in an EPA rule could become a model for other states, since Illinois is the first major coal-producing state to propose such a strict regulation, state officials and activists say. These sources believe the proposal could give lawmakers in other states with a strong coal industry presence, such as Pennsylvania, the confidence necessary to propose their own mercury...