Members of the Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance and Illinois People’s Action are renewing their call for environmental justice and a transition to clean energy in the greater Peoria area.
Dynegy recently announced plans to shut down five units split between its Baldwin and Newton Plants.
Tracey Fox is with the Health Communities Alliance. She says burning less coal is a step forward for the state. But Fox says the economics used to decide the plant closures was one-sided in the fact that they are also some of the least polluting.
“They don't look at who are the oldest plants? What are the dirtiest plants? What are the plants that are next to the largest populations that are suffering from the omissions," Fox said.
The Edwards Dynegy plant in Bartonville is situated in such a way, its air pollution burdens the poorest zip code of Peoria, Fox said.
“We call on elected officials, labor, Dynegy and community leaders to begin drafting a transition plan for the day the Edwards Plant does close.”
The Healthy Community Alliance is asking Peoria leaders to create a meaningful sustainability plan that includes more clean energy sources and jobs.
