By Angeles Ponpa
TAZEWELL COUNTY, Ill. (25 News) – A coal plant in Pekin was expected to close by December 31, 2028. Now, it will remain in operation for a year longer than originally planned because of a granted extension.
In an agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the NRG Powerton Generating Station will remain open until December 31, 2029.
Regional grid operator PJM had requested Midwest Generation’s cooperation to help the Powerton station remain in operation beyond what was the previous U.S. EPA’s Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) compliance shutdown date at the end of 2028.
Midwest Generation is the electricity generation company in Illinois that partners with NRG, which owns and operate the plant at Powerton.
The Illinois EPA later confirmed that PJM’s request met the regulatory criteria under the US EPA’s guidelines to allow continued operation until the end of 2029.
According to the EPA, the guidelines are “national wastewater discharge standards that are developed by the agency on an industry-by-industry basis.” It is not specified which of the criteria was met by PJM’s request to allow for the extension.
