New York Times: Pressure Building on Chicago’s Coal Plants

Friday, August 6, 2010

The campaign to clean up Chicago’s aging coal plants was featured in the New York Times on August 6. The article details the progress of the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance, legislation that would force the coal plants to drastically reduce carbon dioxide and particulate matter pollution. The ordinance was introduced by Alderman Joe Moore in April and has gained 14 cosponsors including Alderman Ricardo Muñoz of the 22nd ward, where the Crawford coal plant is located.

ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner told the New York Times, “The reality is the coal comes from Wyoming, other states get the power, Midwest Generation gets the profit, and Chicago gets the pollution and health costs.”

ELPC has been actively supporting the ordinance and helped pass 2006 regulations that greatly reduced mercury pollution from Illinois coal plants.