FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Contact: Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org
SPRINGFIELD, IL. -- Today, the Springfield Journal Register reported that the City of Springfield will permanently retire City, Water, Light and Power’s Dallman Coal Unit 33 this year. Unit 33 has been offline for the majority of the last year following an operator malfunction that resulted in millions of dollars of damage.
The City previously passed an ordinance in February of 2020 that set retirement dates for Units 31, 32, and 33. Today’s decision is in line with recommendations from an Integrated Resource Plan done by The Energy Authority which found that CWLP should retire Units 1-3 as soon as possible.
In response, Sierra Club Organizing Manager Elizabeth Scrafford and Branch and State President of the NAACP Teresa Haley released the following statement:
“This announcement, which moves up the retirement of Unit 33 by two years, is good for CWLP rate-payers and is good for the environment,” said Sierra Club Organizing Manager Elizabeth Scrafford. “For years constituents have urged council members to make more thoughtful decisions about CWLP and this announcement is one more step in the right direction. We continue to call on CWLP to make a fair plan with the unions representing Dallman’s workforce to find the best path forward for them and their families.
“The recent passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act outlines a blueprint for the gradual elimination of carbon emissions in Illinois, and the expedited shutdown of unit 33 gives Springfield the opportunity to act now to ensure a just transition to renewable energy sources like solar. Leaders of the City of Springfield can and should do right by Springfield residents, our environment, and the CWLP workforce.”
Teresa Haley, Branch and State President of the NAACP said, “This is long overdue and the unit has had a negative impact as it relates to the environment. I’ve been personally suffering from the pollution it has caused and I'm glad to see it gone.”