Midwest Gen in Romeoville Given Break on Emissions Compliance

Midwest Generation has won a two-year delay in having to comply with tougher state sulfur dioxide emissions standards at its Romeoville, Joliet and Waukegan coal-burning plants.

The Illinois Pollution Control Board agree to push the deadlines back for the company to meet the new release levels, a request made by Midwest Generation's parent company as it works through its bankruptcy reorganization, according to a story in the Chicago Tribune.

Midwest Gen officials told the pollution control board that financial problems forced them to ask for the reprieve. The company has seen electricity prices drop dramatically as it competes with the lower prices being set by other electric providers, the story said.

"This deferral gives us the best possible opportunity to maintain a viable fleet of coal plants for the long term, but we still face difficult case-by-case decisions on retrofitting generating units over the next several years," company President Doug McFarlan said in a statement.

Editor's note: This article was written by Karen Sorensen. 

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