| Problem: |
With the deregulation of electric power in Illinois, many companies
are seeking to establish natural gas fueled peaker generating plants throughout
the state. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency currently requires
companies to obtain permits before building peaker plants. As the plants
only operate during times of need, their total output for the year generally
falls under the "minor" pollutant source category, and companies easily
obtain permits. During the time the plants are operating, however, they
emit nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other gases.
Since peaker plants are most likely to operate during the summer when the
ozone is high and air quality is poor, the impact of their operations on
air quality is of special concern. In addition to air quality, peaker power
plants may affect the region's water supply, as they need to draw significant
amounts of water from Lake Michigan or local aquifers. Finally, power
plants are being proposed in areas that are primarily residential, and
this raises additional concerns about noise pollution and property values. |
| Solution: |
The IEPA should be directed to delay action on all pending peaker plant
permits until appropriate guidelines can be established. The IEPA should
at the very least consider equivalent time periods when evaluating emissions,
and it should consider the cumulative effects of multiple plants on the
region's air quality. A siting program similar to that used for landfills
should be developed that would include a review of groundwater usage and
surface water discharge, lighting, air and noise pollution, operating hours,
traffic patterns, property values, and emergency response procedures, etc.
Adjoining communities should be included in the process, which should also
allow for host community agreements. |
