Just days after half a million Toledo residents were advised their water was too toxic to drink or bathe in (New York Times story), scientists released the annual measurement of the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone, and the findings are grim (CNN Dead Zone story). This year’s Dead Zone is estimated at 5,000 square miles—an area […]
Pollution
Illinois Groups Call on Rep. John Shimkus to Address Failing Coal Ash Pits
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Today 18 environmental organizations and community groups representing hundreds of citizens in Illinois sent a letter to U.S. Representative John Shimkus urging the congressman to address failing coal ash pits in the state. The letter comes six months after an impoundment failure at Duke Energy’s Dan River plant in North Carolina unleashed […]
New Report: Risks and Costs of Dynegy’s Coal-Fired Power Plants on Illinois Communities
Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance, Sierra Club, Prairie Rivers Network Highlight Path for Communities to Transition Away from Risky Coal View Full Report Here PEORIA – Today, the Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance (CIHCA), Prairie Rivers Network and the Sierra Club released a report highlighting the risk posed by Dynegy’s coal-fired power plants on communities across […]
Vermilion County passes resolutions on coal ash
As the Illinois Pollution Control Board considers statewide rules to regulate coal ash, Vermilion County groups have stepped up to encourage stronger rules at the state level and additional consideration for closure of ash pits at the Dynegy Vermilion facility. The Dynegy Vermilion power station currently stores coal ash – the toxic byproduct of coal […]
New CO2 emissions standards will protect water and public health
The Obama administration recently announced a proposed rule to cut carbon dioxide emissions from the nation’s power plants by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The proposal will be the first of its kind to target existing coal and gas-fired power plants, building upon last year’s proposal that imposed stringent standards on the construction of new […]







