# Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Illinois > Illinois: 11 producing coal mines in 10 counties, 34,230,307 short tons in 2024. Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. - URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois - Last updated: 2026-11-01 - Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) - Format: full-content Markdown twin of the page (same content as the HTML; site navigation and footer removed) Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) › [Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights) › Illinois Quick answer Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. Illinois had 11 producing coal mines in 10 counties in 2024, which together produced 34,230,307 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024. ## Coal production by county in Illinois Eight of the mines are underground and three are surface mines, and they produced bituminous coal.^\[1\] Washington County, Williamson County and Franklin County produced the most coal in Illinois in 2024.^\[1\] | County | Mines | Underground / surface | Short tons, 2024 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Washington County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/washington) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 6,817,740 | | [Williamson County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/williamson) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 6,413,674 | | [Franklin County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/franklin) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 6,216,015 | | [Hamilton County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/hamilton) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 4,773,185 | | [Perry County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/perry) | 2 | 1 / 1 | 4,609,656 | | [Montgomery County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/montgomery) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 2,817,637 | | [Randolph County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/randolph) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 2,132,415 | | [Sangamon County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/sangamon) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 246,266 | | [Wabash County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/wabash) | 1 | 0 / 1 | 194,483 | | [Saline County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/illinois/saline) | 1 | 0 / 1 | 9,236 | Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report mine-level data for 2024, released November 19, 2025. Data compiled November 1, 2026. ## How coal is leased and paid U.S. coal is mainly found in three regions: the Appalachian coal region, the Interior coal region and the Western coal region, which includes the Powder River Basin.^\[2\] Coal is classified into four main ranks: anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous and lignite.^\[3\] The coal leases in a 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decision carried a tonnage royalty, a minimum annual royalty and a fixed term of years.^\[4\] Illinois is one of the 24 states with an approved coal regulatory program, so the state is the primary regulator of coal mining there and handles permitting, inspection and enforcement, with oversight from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.^\[5\] ## Coal mining history in Illinois The number of underground coal mines in Illinois has been estimated at 5,500.^\[6\] Illinois passed the Mine Subsidence Insurance Act in 1979 to provide subsidence insurance for homeowners in mining areas.^\[6\] ## Coal rights in Illinois The Interior coal region includes Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky among other states, and Illinois is its top producer.^\[2\] Where the private mineral estate has been severed from the surface, an Illinois surface coal mining application must include the surface owner's written consent, a conveyance that expressly grants or reserves the right to surface mine the coal, or a determination of the surface-subsurface relationship under state law.^\[7\] ## What you sell and what you keep What Buckhead buys depends on the deal, and Buckhead tells the seller up front which interest it is offering to buy — for example, the payments for the rest of the current lease term, a term easement, or a longer-term interest. The coal leases in a 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decision carried a tonnage royalty, a minimum annual royalty and a fixed term of years.^\[4\] Coal rights can also be divided by seam: in one West Virginia case, the leases covered all the coal in all seams above a named seam on the leased tracts.^\[4\] Educational information only — not legal, tax, or investment advice. The figures are public reference data, not a valuation or appraisal of any interest. Consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or landman about your specific situation. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much coal does Illinois produce, and where? Illinois had 11 producing coal mines in 10 counties in 2024, which together produced 34,230,307 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.^\[1\] ### Which Illinois counties have the most coal production? By 2024 production, the leading counties are Washington County (6,817,740 short tons), Williamson County (6,413,674 short tons), Franklin County (6,216,015 short tons), Hamilton County (4,773,185 short tons) and Perry County (4,609,656 short tons).^\[1\] ### Can I sell coal mineral rights or coal royalties in Illinois? Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. What Buckhead buys depends on the deal, and Buckhead tells the seller up front which interest it is offering to buy — for example, the payments for the rest of the current lease term, a term easement, or a longer-term interest. ### Who regulates coal mining in Illinois? Illinois is one of the 24 states with an approved coal regulatory program, so the state is the primary regulator of coal mining there and handles permitting, inspection and enforcement, with oversight from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.^\[5\] ### What is the history of coal mining in Illinois? The number of underground coal mines in Illinois has been estimated at 5,500.^\[6\] Illinois passed the Mine Subsidence Insurance Act in 1979 to provide subsidence insurance for homeowners in mining areas.^\[6\] ### Can coal rights be owned separately from the land in Illinois? Where the private mineral estate has been severed from the surface, an Illinois surface coal mining application must include the surface owner's written consent, a conveyance that expressly grants or reserves the right to surface mine the coal, or a determination of the surface-subsurface relationship under state law.^\[7\] ## Related pages [Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights) [Mineral rights in Illinois](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/illinois) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Illinois](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois) [Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Illinois](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/illinois) ## Sources \[1\] [Annual Coal Report, mine-level production (2024 data, released November 19, 2025)](https://www.eia.gov/coal/data.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026) \[2\] [Coal explained: Where our coal comes from](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/where-our-coal-comes-from.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026) \[3\] [Coal explained](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026) \[4\] [Iaeger Energy Development, LLC v. Moore, No. 18-0409 (memorandum decision, Jan. 13, 2020)](https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2023-12/18-0409memo.pdf) — Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (accessed November 1, 2026) \[5\] [Regulating Active Coal Mines](https://www.osmre.gov/programs/regulating-active-coal-mines) — Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (accessed November 1, 2026) \[6\] [Mine Subsidence in Illinois: Facts for Homeowners (Circular 569)](https://library.isgs.illinois.edu/Pubs/pdfs/circulars/c569-2013.pdf) — Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute (accessed November 2, 2026) \[7\] [Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act (225 ILCS 720), Sec. 2.02(c)](https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ILCS/details?MajorTopic=&Chapter=&ActName=Surface%20Coal%20Mining%20Land%20Conservation%20and%20Reclamation%20Act.&ActID=1390&ChapterID=24&SeqStart=&&ChapAct=FullText) — Illinois General Assembly (accessed November 2, 2026) ## Ready to Sell Your Coal Mineral Rights or Royalties? Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. [Get a Free Written Offer](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell#inquiry:source=%2Fcoal-mineral-rights%2Fillinois) ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is the history of coal mining in Illinois?** The number of underground coal mines in Illinois has been estimated at 5,500. Illinois passed the Mine Subsidence Insurance Act in 1979 to provide subsidence insurance for homeowners in mining areas. ## About Buckhead Energy Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance. Buckhead Energy's written offers stay open for 14 days. **Sell mineral rights:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell **Operator directory:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operators