Community groups concerned about decades of air and water pollution, calling for phase-out of outdated and aging plant
Peoria, IL – Today, Dynegy Inc., the Houston-based power producer that exited bankruptcy protection last year, acquired five coal-fired power plants in Illinois from Ameren Corp.Today’s sale includes the E.D. Edwards coal plant, located in Bartonville. Dynegy will pay no cash in the acquisition, and will assume Ameren’s debt obligation of $825 million.
The local Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance was recently formed in the Peoria metro area due to concerns over local air and water pollution caused by the Edwards coal plant. The group is calling for a retirement of the outdated coal plant in order to improve air and water quality in Peoria and surrounding communities.
“The time to put the Edwards plant on a path to retirement is now,” said Sierra Club Heart of Illinois Chair Joyce Blumenshine. “The community deserves cleaner air and water and a safer place to recreate and raise children.”
The Edwards plant currently operates with outdated pollution controls, and for some pollutants has no controls at all, which means that it is contributing to illegally high levels of air pollution in Central Illinois. Ameren had announced no plans to install modern pollution controls at the Bartonville plant.[1] Furthermore, in a filing before the Pollution Control Board, Ameren identified Edwards as a plant it would be forced to close if it had to install pollution controls. [2]
“The Edwards plant remains a serious source of air pollution in Central Illinois, emitting thousands of tons of pollution every year that contributes to asthma attacks, respiratory hospitalizations and premature deaths,” said Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs for Respiratory Health Association.
According to a 2010 study conducted by the Clean Air Task Force, pollution from the Edwards plant annually contributes to 110 asthma attacks, 7 premature deaths, 10 heart attacks, 4 incidences of chronic bronchitis and 7 asthma ER visits.
The Edwards plant also operates an 89-acre coal ash pond that sits on the bank of the Illinois River that has left contamination problems at the site. Coal ash contains arsenic, boron, mercury and other harmful pollutants. Each day, more than 5 million gallons of water is polluted by coal and coal ash processing. To date, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has failed to place limits on the amount of dangerous heavy metal pollution that Ameren can send from these operations.
“The Edwards plant has been polluting our community for over half a century,” said Tracy Fox, of Peoria Families against Toxic Waste. “We have to breathe in this air every day. And it’s making us sick. It is time to retire this plant and create a phase out plan for the site that ensures justice for the community and the plant workers. ”
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