CAPPRA sued the Aurora City Council for issuing of the
plant siting approval, seeking a temporary restraining order.
DuPage County Circuit Judge John Darrah denied the restraining
order, but the lawsuit was not dismissed.
May 8 - Dupage Airport Authority has passed a resolution opposing
construction of peaker power plants in West Chicago and Aurora until
it can be proven that these facilities do not create a safety hazard
to the flying public as well as to the residents on the ground.
The resolution requests that the State of Illinois Division of Aeronautics
require submittal under the IL Airport Hazard Zoning Law to determine
the effects that the plant plumes have on the airspace.
The Authority requested IEPA to suspend issuing of further permits
for peaker power plant facilities until the effects of these plants
on the aviation are determined. (Resolution 2000-844)
Constellation Power withdrew their
West Chicago peaker plant proposal. This change may be largely
attributed to the DuPage Airport Authority resolution
requiring the company to get a permit from the IDA, considering
the proximity of the proposed site to the airport runways (3000 feet).
In addition, the West Chicago City Council has taken a very cautionary approach towards
issuing the permit for the plant, required in this zoning
area, in light of the many concerns brought up by
Aurora residents against Reliant Energy plant.
Consultant hired by a group of Aurora residents prepared an
extensive review of zoning documents involved in the permitting process.
Eola and Butterfield Rd area was zoned for light industry and PUBLIC utilities
in 1976.
The group has received a written opinion from the
ATTORNEY GENERAL regarding the public utility issue, where he stated that
Reliant Energy company WAS NOT BY ANY MEANS a public utility.
The types of peaker power plants proposed by companies entering
Illinois deregulated market are considered merchant wholesale generating
facilities, not public utilities.
This
opens a possibility of litigation.
State Attorney Birkett's office has been petitioned to get involved and
is looking into the matter.
Senator Chris Lauzen of 21st legislative district worked on
mounting of political support for the memorandum on the peaker
power plants in Illinois.
It appears that many in the electorate see power peaker plants
as beneficial for the economic development of their communities.
Senator Lauzen has offered an Amendment to HB 4227 to require
IEPA to delay the issuance of a construction permit for Aurora
until environmental standards for air, water, and noise are made
available.
May 9 - IEPA has issued a permit for the construction of the Reliant
Energy peaker power plant in Aurora. The company plans to begin building
the 950 (870?) mega watt plant in June and deliver electricity for
wholesale distribution by summer 2001.
Governor Ryan and his staff have been flooded with requests
to globally address peaker power plant construction
and to establish environmental guidelines that would take into
account cumulative effect of the proposed power plants on the
entire region, siting of the plants in the residential
areas and near wildlife areas and local need for generation
capacity. Public meeting with George Ryan in Lake County on May 9
has left many residents frustrated -
legislators who could enact new environmental protections
needed for the new situation
depart from Springfield in May and will not return
until fall, while potentially as many as 150 companies may
request (and receive???) power plant construction permits in Illinois.
IEPA Director Tom Skinner, present at the Governor's Ryan round
table meeting at College of DuPage, was asked
if he would support a bill in the state
legislature to force a moratorium on peaker plants or would he just
continue to make excuses. He answered that he would just make excuses.
