Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: *** UPDATED x3 - Biss responds - DCEO upbeat *** Illinois lost 10,800 jobs last month
Next Post: A consolidation stalemate in McLean County
Posted in:
* Apparently, seeking two separate subsidies for its coal-fired plants isn’t enough. From the Sun-Times editorial board…
Now Dynegy, which owns eight coal-fired power plants in central and southern Illinois, wants the Illinois Pollution Control Board to scrap the limits on the rate of pollution each of its plants can emit. Dynegy, which also is reportedly seeking rate increases in the Legislature, proposes instead that existing annual caps apply to its plants as a group, which would allow it to give its dirtier plants more leeway to belch out soot and other pollutants that cause smog and acid rain.
The proposal comes as Dynegy faces a deadline that Ameren, which previously owned the plants, agreed to in 2006 to reduce air pollution.
In a classic example of the problems with revolving-door government, Dynegy has worked with Gov. Bruce Rauner’s director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency — a former lobbyist for a trade association that represents Dynegy — to draw up the plan. According to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office, the revised pollution cap would provide a financial incentive for Dynegy to actually increase pollution if it chose.
For a hearing on Thursday, Dynegy is on the agenda with a request for the Illinois Pollution Control Board to rush through the decision-making process. But there is no need to rush. This is a matter that demands full input and careful consideration. Illinois does not face any shortage of power generation capacity.
* Background…
Environmental experts who analyzed documents obtained under the FOIA request and publicly available emissions and generation data said that it appears Dynegy is comfortably able to meet both the current and proposed new limits with its current generation mix. But they suggest Dynegy might not be able to meet the existing average rate of emissions limit if Coffeen or other plants with scrubbers were to close.
“Coffeen has a big very effective scrubber that makes it the cleanest plant in their operations and probably one of the cleanest in the country, but it has all this extra cost” to run, said Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health programs at the Respiratory Health Association.
“Right now because of the way the rule is set up, every time they run a dirty plant to make money, they have to run the clean plant to make sure the rate evens out. If the rule were changed to allow [the annual tonnage] cap, they could just ditch Coffeen.”
“Just because Dynegy has decided to shut down some of its uneconomic coal plants, doesn’t give it a hall pass to not clean up its older coal plants,” added Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center.
*** UPDATE *** Hmm…
IPCB DENIES #Dynegy request for expedited rulemaking! This proposal was done behind closed doors and would only allow for more pollution, harming our environment and anyone who likes to breathe. #twill @capitolfax
— Colleen Smith (@Colleen2791) October 19, 2017
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 12:17 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: *** UPDATED x3 - Biss responds - DCEO upbeat *** Illinois lost 10,800 jobs last month
Next Post: A consolidation stalemate in McLean County
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
More pollution would increase jobs!
(In the health sector.)
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 12:36 pm
Note to Pritzker Campaign: Before responding, please note this does not read PORTION control.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 12:49 pm
DBAD, City Zen.
Oops. Too late.
Comment by Northsider Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 1:36 pm
Could a positive ruling from the IPCB helped Dynegy with this possible sale???
https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2017-10-19/perry-s-power-subsidy-plan-could-spark-a-vistra-dynegy-deal
Vistra closing coal plants in Texas-
https://tinyurl.com/ybzh2da8
WAPO also has a good article on Rick Perry’s plan that would have bolstered coal. The letter (imbedded in the article) from the former FERC commissioners (including Dynergy’s Pat Wood) is
worth a read.
https://tinyurl.com/yd54cbp9
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 1:42 pm
We should stop subsidizing fossil fuels. End depletion accounting deduction. Illinois should have a Royalty tax on our natural resources including dirty Coal.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 1:52 pm
IEPA Director who negotiated this with Dynegy behind closed doors was Dynegy’s lobbyist right before he was hired.
Most recent appointee to the Pollution Control Board was Dynegy’s lobbyist right before her appointment.
Stinks
Comment by Ok Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 2:15 pm
To the poster “OK” at 2:15: neither of these statements are correct. The EPA director was Rauner’s energy policy guy before moving over the EPA. The PCB appointee was a PCB employee before being nominated.
Comment by NOV Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 3:58 pm
OK post is incorrect. IEPA requested expedited hearing not Dynegy. New revisions impose new cap on allowable emissions that are 20% lower than current rule, does nothing to change future environmental investments from current rule, imposes additional requirements upon Dynegy, does nothing to change health based standards, and merges two rules into one creating efficiencies. READ the Rule.
Comment by Dog1 Thursday, Oct 19, 17 @ 9:00 pm