Strategic Decommissioning of Coal Power Plants in Illinois

Abstract

More than half of the United States’ energy comes from coal: its production reduces our reliance on foreign fuel and provides jobs to thousands of Americans; however it is no longer economically efficient and poses a great threat to human and environmental health. The profits of the coal industry are being dismantled by falling natural gas prices, reduced energy demand, increased energy efficiency and requirements for expensive pollution controls. Coal energy production produces pollutants that negatively affect human health and climate change, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, wind and solar energy development is creating new jobs, spurring economic growth, and generating pollution-free energy. The objective of this study was to find a strategy for decommissioning Illinois coal-fired power plants in the least harmful way possible. Ideally, locations will be shut down based on a system that allows for minimal impact on the environment, sustains social equality, and is feasible in terms of energy output and alternative sources. Ten potential sites were evaluated based on air pollution emissions, percent minority population and median household income of the surrounding area, size/energy output, and the cost-benefit of an alternative energy source. ArcGIS was used for mapping and spatial analysis of data acquired from the American Community Survey 2006-2010, 2010 Census, Environmental Protection Agency and SourceWatch coal plant information. Results depict which coal power plants would be the best to shut down first based on environmental justice, pollution emissions and capacity, while indicating a minimum three year timeline to make up costs of conversion for ideal candidates.