Difference between revisions of "Joliet 29 Generating Station"

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==Citizen groups to file suit against Midwest Generation==
 
==Citizen groups to file suit against Midwest Generation==
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In July 2009, five groups of environmental and public health advocates announced their intent to file a Clean Air Act lawsuit against [[Edison International]] subsidiary Midwest Generation, LLC. The groups say Midwest's six Illinois power plants are decades old and do not have the appropriate pollution controls according to EPA standards. Specifically, the lawsuit will focus on opacity violations, a measurement of the light blocked by particulate matter from smokestacks at Midwest's Joliet, [[Crawford Generating Station|Crawford]], [[Fisk Generating Station|Fisk]], [[Powerton Generating Station|Powerton]], [[Waukegan Generating Station|Waukegan]], and [[Will County Generating Station|Will County]] stations.
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In July 2009, five groups of environmental and public health advocates announced their intent to file a Clean Air Act lawsuit against [[Edison International]] subsidiary [[Midwest Generation]], LLC. The groups say Midwest's six Illinois power plants are decades old and do not have the appropriate pollution controls according to EPA standards. Specifically, the lawsuit will focus on opacity violations, a measurement of the light blocked by particulate matter from smokestacks at Midwest's Joliet, [[Crawford Generating Station|Crawford]], [[Fisk Generating Station|Fisk]], [[Powerton Generating Station|Powerton]], [[Waukegan Generating Station|Waukegan]], and [[Will County Generating Station|Will County]] stations.
  
 
The concerned groups include Citizens Against Ruining the Environment, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, [[Natural Resources Defense Council]], the [[Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago]], and [[Sierra Club]]. The six power plants in question are located in working class and minority neighborhoods, raising concerns about [[Environmental justice and coal|environmental justice]]. The groups expect to file suit in 60 days, unless Midwest Generation comes into compliance or stops operating, or unless the EPA takes other measures.<ref>Terry Bibo, [http://www.pjstar.com/news/x639781877/Illinois-coal-plants-are-being-threatened-with-lawsuit "Illinois coal plants are being threatened with lawsuit,"] ''Journal Star,'' July 29, 2009.</ref> Shannon Fisk, an attorney for [[NRDC]], described Midwest's Fisk and Crawford plants as, "two dinosaurs in the middle of a large city. They should have cleaned up decades ago. Running those plants is inexpensive for the company, but it's very expensive for public health."<ref name="wp">Kari Lydersen, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/16/AR2009081601806.html?wpisrc=newsletter "'The Clunkers of the Power-Plant World': Old Coal-Fired Facilities Could Escape New Rules,"] ''Washington Post,'' August 17, 2009.</ref>
 
The concerned groups include Citizens Against Ruining the Environment, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, [[Natural Resources Defense Council]], the [[Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago]], and [[Sierra Club]]. The six power plants in question are located in working class and minority neighborhoods, raising concerns about [[Environmental justice and coal|environmental justice]]. The groups expect to file suit in 60 days, unless Midwest Generation comes into compliance or stops operating, or unless the EPA takes other measures.<ref>Terry Bibo, [http://www.pjstar.com/news/x639781877/Illinois-coal-plants-are-being-threatened-with-lawsuit "Illinois coal plants are being threatened with lawsuit,"] ''Journal Star,'' July 29, 2009.</ref> Shannon Fisk, an attorney for [[NRDC]], described Midwest's Fisk and Crawford plants as, "two dinosaurs in the middle of a large city. They should have cleaned up decades ago. Running those plants is inexpensive for the company, but it's very expensive for public health."<ref name="wp">Kari Lydersen, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/16/AR2009081601806.html?wpisrc=newsletter "'The Clunkers of the Power-Plant World': Old Coal-Fired Facilities Could Escape New Rules,"] ''Washington Post,'' August 17, 2009.</ref>

Revision as of 01:33, 26 August 2009

{{#badges: Climate change |CoalSwarm}} Joliet 29 Generating Station is a coal-fired power station owned and operated by Edison International near Joliet, Illinois.

<googlemap version="0.9.4" zoom="16" lat="41.494703" lon="-88.123534" type="satellite"> </googlemap>

Citizen groups to file suit against Midwest Generation

In July 2009, five groups of environmental and public health advocates announced their intent to file a Clean Air Act lawsuit against Edison International subsidiary Midwest Generation, LLC. The groups say Midwest's six Illinois power plants are decades old and do not have the appropriate pollution controls according to EPA standards. Specifically, the lawsuit will focus on opacity violations, a measurement of the light blocked by particulate matter from smokestacks at Midwest's Joliet, Crawford, Fisk, Powerton, Waukegan, and Will County stations.

The concerned groups include Citizens Against Ruining the Environment, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, and Sierra Club. The six power plants in question are located in working class and minority neighborhoods, raising concerns about environmental justice. The groups expect to file suit in 60 days, unless Midwest Generation comes into compliance or stops operating, or unless the EPA takes other measures.[1] Shannon Fisk, an attorney for NRDC, described Midwest's Fisk and Crawford plants as, "two dinosaurs in the middle of a large city. They should have cleaned up decades ago. Running those plants is inexpensive for the company, but it's very expensive for public health."[2]

Midwest spokesman Doug MacFarlan said the company is being targeted unfairly, and that Midwest's plants release less particulate matter than most. He also said the company had responded to local complaints by reducing both the amount of coal piled up at Crawford and the dust that blows off barges transporting its coal. "We really believe we have demonstrated environmental responsibility at those plants," McFarlan said. In 2006, Midwest made an agreement with the state of Illinois to reduce emissions at its coal plants. The company has installed mercury controls, but has not decided whether to install scrubbers or shut the plants down. The company has until 2015 to install scrubbers at its Fisk plant and until 2018 at its Crawford plant.[2]

Plant Data

  • Owner: Midwest Generations EME LLC
  • Parent Company: Edison International
  • Plant Nameplate Capacity: 1,320 MW
  • Units and In-Service Dates: 660 MW (1965), 660 MW (1966)
  • Location: 1800 Channahon Rd., Joliet, IL 60436
  • GPS Coordinates: 41.495703, -88.130534
  • Coal Consumption:
  • Coal Source:
  • Number of Employees:

Emissions Data

  • 2006 CO2 Emissions: 6,450,657 tons
  • 2006 SO2 Emissions: 14,360 tons
  • 2006 SO2 Emissions per MWh:
  • 2006 NOx Emissions: 3,486 tons
  • 2005 Mercury Emissions: 347 lb.

Articles and Resources

Sources

  1. ↑ Terry Bibo, "Illinois coal plants are being threatened with lawsuit," Journal Star, July 29, 2009.
  2. ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 Kari Lydersen, "'The Clunkers of the Power-Plant World': Old Coal-Fired Facilities Could Escape New Rules," Washington Post, August 17, 2009.

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