Illinois issues power plant permit again

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued a new permit for a large coal-fired power plant in Washington County.

The agency had to redo the permit after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency threw it out in March following an appeal by environmental groups. The federal agency said the state had failed to properly respond to environmentalists' concerns about the $2 billion, 1,500-megawatt Prairie State plant.

State officials said they met with environmental groups and made small modifications in the new permit. The biggest change makes it clear that St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Co. is to use coal mined at the site. If outside coal is used because of a mine shutdown, it must be "washed," which removes some pollutants.

Environmentalists had wanted the coal mined on the site to be washed, too, but the state refused.

Peabody has said that washing coal is only economical if it has to be transported long distances. The company also said that the solid waste washing would create would outweigh the benefits of reducing air pollution.

Kathy Andria of the American Bottom Conservancy, based in East St. Louis, said she was extremely disappointed the state did not require coal-washing or a technology called coal gasification.

Beth Sutton, a spokeswoman for Peabody, said the company is pleased to move forward with the project.