The Sierra Club’s suing a southern Illinois coal-fired power plant. 

Megan Wachspress is part of the lawsuit against the owners of the Prairie State Energy Campus in Marissa.

“To give you a sense of this plant’s size, last year alone, the Prairie State plant emitted carbon dioxide equivalent to the yearly emissions of 2.3 million passenger vehicles,” said Megan Wachspress, an environmental law attorney. “All major sources of air pollution in the U.S. are required to obtain and operate in compliance with a Title V permit. A Title V permit incorporates the most up-to-date requirements for pollution control at a plant and directs the plant operators to monitor and report certain emissions.”

What’s more, Sierra Club says Prairie State’s never had this permit, and it’s been running more than a decade.

Prairie State Generating Company responded via email from Alyssa Harre, vice president of external affairs and organizational strategy.

“Prairie State, a not-for-profit owned energy campus, is operating legally under a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). To comply with this permit, Prairie State installed and has maintained more than $1 billion in state-of-the-art emissions control technology and continuous emissions monitoring system.

“This action by the Sierra Club’s California-based Environmental Law Program is a politically motivated attempt to circumvent the Illinois regulatory process, the consequences of which will bring instability to our electric grid to the detriment of the consumers we serve.

“Prairie State remains committed to working with the IEPA to maintain compliance with environmental regulations and will not let this lawsuit distract from our mission of providing value to the communities served through the continued production of reliable and affordable power, all while providing jobs and maintaining economic prosperity for hardworking men and women across downstate Illinois.  

“As the lawsuit was filed today, March 22, Prairie State is currently reviewing the Sierra Club’s complaint and will respond through the appropriate channels.”