We need to quickly transition to a clean energy future in Illinois to prevent additional negative public health impacts from fossil fuel plants. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) HB 0804/ SB1718 is the only bill that puts Illinois on a path to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable e
Illinois To See Significant Public Health Benefits in a 100% Carbon-Free Future Tom Shockey/Flickr
Jessica Collingsworth, Energy policy analyst | May 12, 2021, 12:40 pm EDT
Special thanks to Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at
, for contributing to this post and the development of the University of Wisconsin – Madison (UW) Analysis.
In Illinois, the economic competitiveness of our aging and inefficient coal-fired power plants is in decline. Coal’s share of in-state generation dropped to 27% of generation in 2019. Last month, Vistra announced plans to retire the Joppa Power Plant by September 1, 2022, three years earlier than previously expected. These types of decisions not only make sense from an economic standpoint, but there are also health benefits realized as well since burning less fossil fuel for energy means healthier air for all of us to breathe. The negative health impa
Clean Energy Policy Is Heating Up in Illinois Kenneth Keifer/Shutterstock
Jessica Collingsworth, Energy policy analyst | April 23, 2021, 11:41 am EDT
Energy legislation is heating up in Springfield. Several energy bills from a variety of stakeholders are on the docket, including: Climate Jobs Illinois, a coalition of labor unions; Vistra, which owns five coal plants in the state; and Ameren Illinois, an investor-owned utility, just to name a few.
/ SB1718 is the only bill that mitigates climate change, expands renewable energy and energy efficiency, holds utilities accountable, and provides a plan for a just transition for coal plant communities in the state.
County, school district impacted by closing power plant
Joppa power plant to close sooner than expected By Colin Baillie | April 7, 2021 at 5:24 PM CDT - Updated April 7 at 5:26 PM
JOPPA, Ill. (KFVS) - The timeline to shut down the Joppa Power Plant sped up.
The Joppa plant first opened in 1952 and currently employs more than a hundred people.
Now, county and school leaders brace for the economic impact the shutdown will have on Massac County.
“This is not good for this area, said Gary Hamm, the Massac County supervisor of assessments. “It’s going to have a devastating impact.”
He said Vistra property assessment dropped in the last year.
Joppa Power Plant to close by September 2022, three years sooner than first announced
Joppa power plant to close in September 2022 By Clayton Hester | April 6, 2021 at 10:33 AM CDT - Updated April 6 at 12:21 PM
METROPOLIS, Ill. (KFVS) - Vistra and its subsidiary, Electric Energy, Inc., has announced that the Joppa Power Plant will be retired by Sept. 1, 2022.
This will be three years earlier than first announced, and is a part of an agreement meant to settle a complaint by the Sierra Club from 2018.
“The hardest decisions we make are those that impact the dedicated men and women of our plant workforce and the local communities. In this case, we agreed to shut down the Joppa plant in light of the legal uncertainties and significant economic challenges facing the plant. First and foremost, we will work with our team members and the impacted communities to ensure a just transition, including our commitment to pay $1.1 million in incremental property taxes over three years,�