The Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) has called for another hearing for testimony and public comment on a change to Dynegy-Vistra’s “Multi-Pollutant Standard” (MPS) air pollution rule. The hearing is slated for January 29th.
In an earlier blog post we explained how Dynegy-Vistra, Illinois’ largest coal fired power plant operator, worked with Governor Bruce Rauner’s Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to craft a rule-change for the MPS that would have changed the way their air emissions are regulated.
In October 2018, after months of review, three hearings, and thousands of public comments, the IPCB proposed a modified version of the proposal that sought to address some of the concern from environmental groups and community members. The IPCB’s decision would lower the annual cap on pollution from Dynegy-Vistra’s plants and require that the cap be reduced when plants are retired, mothballed, or sold.
Environmental groups, including Prairie Rivers Network, released a statement saying the IPCB’s October decision was a step forward but “the new proposal can still lead to thousands more tons of pollution than the original standard allowed. Instead of weakening air pollution rules for Texas-based corporations, Illinois needs to double-down on creating new jobs in our expanding clean energy economy, diversifying local economies in Central and Southern Illinois, and protecting the air we breathe.”
This new hearing will give the public the opportunity for additional comment on the modified version of Dynegy-Vistra’s misguided proposal.
The hearing will be January 29th, Sangamo Room, IEPA, 1021 N. Grand Avenue East, North Entrance, off Converse Street, Springfield IL. The public comment portion will be in the evening from 5:30pm-8pm. Prairie Rivers Network, other environmental organizations and concerned citizens will be there, and we encourage you to join us.
Public comments may be emailed to the Clerk of the Board, Don Brown, at don.brown@illinois.org. And you can take action through the Sierra Club page.
