Associated Press: Power costs in Kentucky and Illinois would shoot up under federal carbon tax legislation targeting states heavily dependent on coal-fired electricity. The nation’s third-leading coal producer, Kentucky would be the hardest-hit state for dollar increases for cooperative customers. Power companies would incur billions of dollars in added costs and pass those along to consumers. Average monthly bills could go up $27 to $68, based on a projected tax of $20 to $50 per metric ton of …