Coal-burning power plants

Sprinfield City Water Light and Power

Springfield City Water Light and Power is proposing a dirty 250MW coal fired power plant for future energy needs, without exploring cleaner alternatives like energy efficiency and renewable energy. The proposed plant is not using innovative state-of-the-art technologies, and therefore will add more pollution to Springfield's environment for at least another 50 years.

While this plant will be replacing an older plant, it is three times the size - which means more air pollution, more global warming emissions and less opportunity for a clean energy future for Springfield.

On March 22, 2006, the Illinois EPA held a public hearing about the air permit in order to hear public comments regarding the new power plant. The IEPA will continue to accept Public comments regarding the power plant by mail until April 21st. Please mail comments to: Illinois EPA, Crystal Myers-Wilkins, Hearing Officer, 1021 N. Grand Ave. E., P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276.

For more information contact Becki Clayborn, Sierra Club, 312-251-1680 x 9.

FACTS:

Springfield did not do an analysis of how much energy could come from cleaner sources, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Such programs could prevent the need to build a dirty coal fired power plant.
Studies show that community energy efficiency programs can cut energy needs by 7 - 13% in a community. (Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance)
A 400MW wind farm outside of Bloomington IL, projected to be built by 2007, could provide cost-effective clean energy for Springfield.
Pollution from coal-fired power plants is a serious hazard to our health and our environment.
Coal-fired power plants in Illinois in 2002 were responsible for 1,356 deaths, 2,361 heart attacks, 33,986 asthma attacks and 2,007 Asthma Emergency Room visits. (www.cleantheair.org)
If built, this power plant will be the largest new source of global warming emissions in Illinois.

The following increases in emissions will occur with the new power plant:

CO (Carbon Monoxide) increase of +1276 tons per year
PM (Particulate Matter) increase of +409 tons per year
H2SO4 (Sulfuric Acid) increase of 20.8 tons per year
NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) increase of 68.5 tons per year (using 2004/2005 data)*

*CWLP's permit application shows a net decrease in NOx of -138 tons per year. This number was calculated using old 2002/2003 data.

Latest Springield News

Springfield Journal-Register coverage of 3/22 public hearing