R-15-99 Pertaining to the Sale of Any and All Coal-Fired Plants in Illinois Calling for the Instalation of Pollution Control Equiptment or Conversion to Natural GasRESOLUTION
RESOLUTION PERTAINING TO THE SALE OF ANY AND ALL
COAL -FIRED PLANTS IN ILLINOIS CALLING FOR THE
INSTALLATION OF POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
OR CONVERSION TO NATURAL GAS
WHEREAS, air pollution is responsible for an estimated 3,500 premature deaths in the
Chicago area each year, aggravates asthma attacks, and is especially harmful to vulnerable groups
such as children, the elderly, and people with existing lung and heart disease; and
WHEREAS, coal -fired power plants are Illinois' largest industrial source of air pollution,
emitting:
• smog - forming nitrogen oxides, in excess of 307,123 tons per year, or the
equivalent of 15.7 million cars;
• sulfur dioxide, in excess of 856,121 tons per year, that contributes to
particulate pollution associated with premature deaths;
• carbon dioxide, in excess of 90,807,416 tons per year, that contributes to
climate change;
• toxic metals such as mercury that can damage neurological systems; and
WHEREAS, coal burning power plants were built between 1951 and 1975, and are exempt
from meeting the pollution standards that new plants must meet under the Clean Air Act and are
permitted to emit pollution at 2 to 5 times the rate of new plants; and
WHEREAS, coal -fired power plants emitted more nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide than
any other Illinois utility in 1997, and significant amounts of sulfur dioxide because of being
"grandfathered" out of the new plant emission standards; and
WHEREAS, electricity suppliers to sell six coal -fired power plants located in Cook County,
Will County and Lake County by March, 1999; and
WHEREAS, the new owners could reduce pollution from these plants by either installing
modern pollution controls or burning cleaner fuels such as natural gas and thereby end the
"grandfathering" of these plants from modern emissions standards; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Lemont seeks to safeguard the health and welfare of its citizens.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Village of Lemont hereby urges
Governor George Ryan to ensure that the pollution from coal -fired power plants be dramatically
reduced as a condition of the plants' sale.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution shall be sent to: Governor
George Ryan, Senator Radogno, Representative Lyons, Representative Zickus, Senate President
Phillip, and Speaker of the House Madigan.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
THE VILLAGE OF LEMONT, COUNTIES OF COOK, WILL AND DU PAGE, ILLINOIS
on this 22nd day of March , 1999.
Barbara Buschman
Keith Latz
Connie Markiewicz
Richard Rimbo
Ralph Schobert
Mary Studebaker
Approved by me this 22nd day of
Attest:
2
AYES NAYS PASSED ABSENT
V
V
CH
CHARLENE SMOLLEN, Village Clerk
Approved as to form:
VILLAGE AT ORNEY
Date:
ENE SMOLLEN, Village Clerk
1999.
I /,_
v17 WAS 1�KI, Village President
FROM THE DESK OF
PASTOR GLENN B. BERGMARK
March 11. 1999
To: Mayor Rick Kwasneski
From: Pastor Bergmark��
Re: Proposed legislation regarding the sale of coal Fred plants by
ComEd.
Please note the lengthy series of documents concerning the sale of
six coal fired power - plants by ComEd, including the Will County
station at Romeoville. I was contacted by Maureen Headington of
the Illinois Environmental Council, an environmental advocate
group. She asked if I would survey the 19 pages of documents and
place them before you for consideration of adopting a resolution
concerning the sale. As I see it, the intent is to make necessary, as
a condition of sale, the coal -fired plants be required to meet the
same emission standards as new plants. The purpose of the
resolution is to petition Governor Ryan to insure such a condition
of sale be included in any action taken by ComEd and that the
responsibility for clean up falls to either ComEd or the new
owners. This same issue is also before the Illinois House and its
Public Utilities Committee. Give this issue your thoughtful
consideration. Because of our proximity to the Romeoville plant,
we may want to consider adopting such a resolution. Also, you
may want to contact ComEd in this matter. I tend toward
supporting any issue that will promote clean air in Lemont.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact
me.