Any county is authorized to acquire, construct, maintain and operate a coal processing plant and system for the preparation and treatment of coal mined within the county and within the State of Illinois from mines located within five miles of the boundary of such county, such preparation and treatment to be for the purpose of rendering the coal smokeless when consumed and of a quality to meet the legal requirements of municipalities and political subdivisions of this State and of other states now in effect or hereafter to be placed into effect and which will permit such prepared coal to be freely purchased, sold and used in such municipalities and political subdivisions.
55 ILCS 100/1