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Seek data on peaker plants

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has made it clear that the peaker power plant issue is a local one. Director Tom Skinner, speaking at the Lake County board agenda review meeting last week, emphasized this stating that local governments can limit the number of peaker plants in a specific geographic region through local zoning laws and regulations.

The IEPA’s only regulatory authority over peaker plants applies to air emissions which have to meet the state’s minimum air pollution standards before they are issued a permit to operate.

This puts the onus on the village of Libertyville to research and examine data related to peaker plants before changing village zoning and granting a special use to Indeck for a peaker plant in the Mallory Industrial Park in Libertyville.

The Libertyville Plan Commission has been holding a series of public hearings on the peaker plant application since November. Consultants have been hired by both the village and Indeck to present findings on a number of issues.

The village clearly has to do its job by addressing the questions and concerns of its residents and not rely exclusively on Indeck’s consultants.

Ten peaker plants have been proposed in Lake and surrounding counties, including sites in Libertyville, North Chicago and Zion. Grayslake has gone on record opposing the Libertyville peaker plant because emissions would exceed its air quality standards.

Now is the time for the village to investigate thoroughly the impact of peaker plants so it can make a fair and informed decision on Indeck’s application should the Plan Commission recommend approval to the village board. The village clearly has to do its job by addressing the questions and concerns of its residents and not rely exclusively on Indeck’s consultants.