Landmark Coal Ash Law Signals Hope for Midwest Communities

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A coal-fired power plant in southern Illinois. A new state bill would clean up coal ash from power plants like this one. Summers in the Midwest are great for outdoor activities like growing your garden or cooling off in one of the area’s many lakes and streams. But some waters aren’t as clean as they should be, thanks in part to coal ash ponds that are littered across the region. Currently, the state of Illinois has the dubious distinction of hosting the most leaking sites in the country . Though coal ash dumps can leak harmful chemicals like arsenic and cadmium into nearby waters, so far regulators have done little to address these toxic sites. Now, thanks to landmark legislation recently signed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker , state regulators and coal companies will finally be forced to address the coal ash problem in the Land of Lincoln, signaling hope for those who have been impacted by toxic coal ash for far too long. Red circle markers indicate coal ash sites in Illinois. Three of the state’s coal ash units — in Joliet and Springfield — have coal ash cleanup plans due soon. View the interactive map for more […]

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