With laws pending within the Illinois General Assembly to manage coal ash and proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines into consideration to manage each coal ash and coal oxide Ethelyn (EtO), a way of native urgency is rising with modifications coming to Washington, DC
For almost three years, state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, has pushed laws to require NRG to take away quite than fill two coal ash ponds at its decommissioned Waukegan energy plant.
After Illinois enacted laws regulating EtO in 2019, Medline Industries started taking steps to cut back emissions at its Waukegan plant and Vantage Specialty Chemicals did the identical at its Gurnee plant. The EPA started taking a more in-depth take a look at Lake County over the summer season.
Nominating former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, D-N.Y., to move the EPA on Nov. 11, President-elect Donald Trump promised “honest and speedy deregulatory choices” below Zeldin’s tenure, prompting Mayfield to work more durable extra on his laws between from time to time.
“It’s necessary to do one thing now, earlier than January 20,” he mentioned, referring to Trump’s inauguration date. “This is about defending Lake Michigan and that impacts consuming water in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. Now it is rather more necessary than ever.”
Local officers and activists now really feel a way of urgency in addressing Lake Michigan water and air high quality in northeastern Lake County as future EPA laws ease.
State Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, mentioned in a textual content that Illinois has already taken steps to handle dangers from EtO and coal ash and can proceed its mission, no matter modifications on the federal stage .
“While environmental challenges stay, we’re dedicated to mitigating publicity dangers and defending the standard of Illinois’ water and air, and guaranteeing that impacted communities are heard and supported all through this course of,” Johnson mentioned in textual content.
After NRG introduced almost three years in the past that it will take away one of many two coal ash ponds and shut the opposite – it subsequently modified its plans to shut each – Mayfield launched a invoice within the 102nd General Assembly to power the elimination that handed the Senate and blocked within the House.
When the 103rd General Assembly convened in early 2023, Mayfield resubmitted her invoice and mentioned she was 5 votes quick. Some of his Democratic colleagues fear that this might trigger coal-fired energy crops of their districts to shut, leaving folks out of labor.
Mayfield mentioned he hopes to perform that within the January session, which might be held simply days earlier than the 104th General Assembly is sworn in.
“More issues get handed within the lame duck session,” Mayfield mentioned. “I’ll make a terrific effort to overturn the unfavorable votes. They are all Democrats. There isn’t any bipartisan assist for this.”
Ann Duhon, a spokeswoman for NRG, mentioned in an electronic mail that every one actions taken by the corporate for its Midwest Generation energy plant in Waukegan are topic to state and federal laws.
“NRG has a strict coverage to adjust to legal guidelines and can’t make a unilateral choice to wash up coal ash with out state and federal regulatory approval,” Duhon mentioned.
Celeste Flores, county co-chair of Clean Power Lake, mentioned her group continues to work with Mayfield, Johnson and Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor to assist laws to eradicate coal ash ponds. Concerned that the EPA might not proceed to pursue its regulation of coal ash, he mentioned he’s seeking to the state.
“This invoice will do what the neighborhood is asking for,” Flores mentioned. “Under President-elect Trump we might not see the EPA guidelines carried out. It’s a superb factor that Illinois is taking steps to safeguard our land, air and water.”
Doug Ower, president of the Sierra Club’s Woods and Wetlands chapter, can be a longtime environmental advocate who pays shut consideration to each coal ash deposits in Waukegan, ponds and grass fields. He additionally worries about EtO within the environment.
Ower mentioned his concern grows with the prospect of a much less aggressive EPA in Washington, notably with the foundations presently being written to control coal ash and EtO. He, too, needs to see the Illinois Legislature take motion on coal ash.
“I’m very involved as a result of it seems to be like they are going to roll again the laws, and that is taking us within the incorrect route,” Ower mentioned. “These guidelines defend all of us. I hope that the State will take steps to undertake the mandatory laws.”
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