WSIL – Lawmakers met with interested parties of power generating facilities while in Springfield last week to discuss the company’s wish to close some southern Illinois sites.
Dynegy Inc. has several locations throughout Illinois and in other states. In May, the company announced they will be closing three sites beginning later this year, two in Baldwin and one in Newton.
State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said the bi-partisan Coal Caucus spoke with the company and they are making some progress.
“It’s moving forward,” Bradley said about legislation he has proposed.
Bradley’s measure has been in the Rules Committee since May and so far he is the only sponsor, but it is still being worked on. The bill aims to create the Clean Coal Technology Development and Utilization Fund to purchase scrubbers and other clean technologies for coal. Another target of the bill is to get rid of some of the disadvantages companies have by using Illinois coal.
“Coal is really a solution for Dynegy to keep their plants open and there by be able to put together a comprehensive Illinois energy policy which is, all of the above, which provides for, the nuclears in northern Illinois, the coal in southern Illinois as well as renewables,” Bradley said.
Bradley said 85 percent of Illinois coal is exported.
A Dynegy spokesman would not comment about the meeting with lawmakers that took place last week but did say there is a lot of talk regarding Illinois energy right now.
The first site is scheduled to close in September.
The legislation is House Bill 6576.
Read more: Legislation could keep coal fired power plants in southern Illinois http://ift.tt/29lLlbo
