Woods & Wetlands Power Plant Information

C L I C K	Releases  (newest at the top)
	ALERT ! Holliday Hills Power Plant EPA Pollution Permit Hearing  Thursday, December 9th 7:00 p.m. McHenry Parkland Middle School 1802 N. Ringwood Road Ask EPA to  protect recognized natural areas  promote conservation and efficiency programs more rigorously engage in regional planning of powerplant siting permit new powerplants only if needed locally site new powerplants near electricity demand   To join the Sierra Club Woods & Wetlands Powerplant Committee contact John Chambers .
	W&W Letter to NE IL Representatives and Senators  IL EPA intends to permit this plant, impacting threatened and endangerd species in IL Natural Area wildlife sanctuary. Clearly IL EPA is not doing enough to protect our environment. We call for a moratorium on new permits of this type while the IL EPA develops permitting and siting policy that reflect ecology, local need, and conservation and efficiency potential. 12/6/99
	IDNR Endangered Species Consultation Letter IDNR staff points out that the powerplant will likely disturb Illinois threatened and endangered species, presently protected in an Illinois Natural Area comprising part of the Park. The Illinois legislature has not provided any protection for state endangered species. Will the EPA?
	EPA Air Pollution Permit Application Hearing December 9!

This 300 Megawatt peaker power plant is proposed 2121 S. River Road, directly across from the entrance to Moraine Hills State Park.

• Disturbs Wildlife Habitat: Adjacent to Pike Marsh, a component of Kettle Moraine Illinois Natural Area and Moraine Hills State Park, and home to no less than ten Illinois threatened or endangered species. Many of these would be disturbed by night time lights, high frequency noise, and the plume of toxic pollutants. In addition, connection to the gas main will likely require extensive digging within the present Park boundaries, and possible new structures. Illinois Natural Areas are protected forever by the state for wildlife.
• Pollution:  This plant will be a "synthetic minor" air pollution source. According to the manufacturer, it will release thousands of tons of regulated toxic pollutants per year. Up to :
• 199 tons of smog forming NO_x - nitrous oxides,
• 121 tons of poisonous CO - carbon monoxide,
• 23 tons of choking PM - particulate matter,
• 2 tons of corrosive SO₂ - sulfur dioxide,
• 18 tons of smog forming VOM - volatile organic materials.
• PLUS Millions of tons of unregulated Global Warming gases (CO₂).
There are better options: electricity conservation, efficiency, renewables. If they receive an air pollution pemit from EPA, enforcement of that permit will continue to be an issue and cost taxpayers money. Presently budget constraints cover major source inspections only once every two years, and minor sources such as this, less often.
• Water Consumption: The plant will require over 50,000 gallons of water per day. This huge requirement will tax our deep aquifer water supply, and raises concern regarding the release of concentrated radioactive mineral content of the aquifer water.
• Noise: This gas turbine power plant uses 2 huge jet engines, and will run them during hot summer days. The noise will be a dull roar within a quarter mile, and audible for twice that far, disturbing residents and visitors to the Park, in addition to the wildlife.
• Employment: Will the plant will be remotely operable? Will it provide jobs? Other proposals call for less than a handful of on-site employees.
• Ugly: Two exhaust stacks rising ? feet in the air to release their toxic plumes.

• Replace your appliances with more efficient ones. The money you save in electricity bills will pay for your investment in a few years. Air conditioners and refrigerators are the biggest opportunities. Computers now account for 13% of usage. Turn them off when not in use. You can also take advantage of ComEd's high efficiency fluorescent light bulb offer.

• Help promote wind energy in our region.

Links:

Concerned Citizens of Lake County
This is a link to a group started expressly for the purpose of defeating the Libertyville power plant. It has recent news articles, the Indeck Proposal to the Village of Libertyville, and the names and addresses of local village officials.
 

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