Toxic Coal Ash in Illinois
Provided by: Earth Justice|Published on: June 3, 2025
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Civics
Authors: Earth Justice
Region: Illinois
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this article, Earthjustice outlines the negative consequences of coal-powered energy long after the plants have finished burning coal.
- The resource details the history of legislation to combat irresponsible coal ash dumping.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Students can learn about all of the coal ash sites in Illinois and understand the proximity and urgency to continue pushing for compliance and regulation at coal ash sites through the use of the interactive map.
- Opportunities to learn more about coal ash sites in other states are available on this website.
Prerequisites
- This article can be downloaded and printed from the website.
- Students will need individual devices to explore the interactive map of coal ash disposal sites.
- Background knowledge of coal-powered energy and the poor environmental and health-related effects of burning coal is essential.
Differentiation & Implementation
- There is so much to be learned from the embedded links in this article. Therefore, it can be helpful to choose the links that align with the teaching standards being covered and make a graphic organizer for students to understand which links they need to visit and provide a summary of the information for each link.
- Students can construct a timeline to understand the progress that has been made in legislature to require responsible cleanup and compliance at coal ash sites.
- Environmental justice can be connected with general science or chemistry classes by using this link provided in the article to explore the different chemicals found in coal ash to research and learn about the exact hazards to the human body.
- This article on coal ash along Lake Michigan can be used as a paired text to explore due to the similar region being detailed in the resource.
- The video provided in this lesson can be used as a warmup before reading this article. It provides information on coal ash pollution in Lake Michigan.
This resource provides a brief overview of what coal ash is, why it is harmful, and what action is and needs to be taken to clean it up. A map of coal ash sites and a list of sites in Illinois are also provided. The article is brief but links to several additional resources with more information on the topic; since coal ash is a by-product of coal burning and is a toxic pollutant, it can be tied into conversations about pollution, human health, and climate change. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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