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Midwest Generation Agrees to Retire Fisk and Crawford Coal Plants
Case Updates:
August 29, 2012
Tremendous news – On August 29, Chicagoans celebrated a huge public health victory as Midwest Generation retired both the Fisk and Crawford coal plants. These are two of the oldest and dirtiest coal-fired power plants in the nation, and they’re located in the heart of Chicago’s Southwest side.
This announcement comes after years of pressure from local citizens and numerous organizations, including the Sierra Club – over 60 groups have worked together to make this historic day possible. The local communities affected most by these plants have done the heaviest lifting to get these coal plants retired. This announcement is the culmination of many years of hard work by those families and concerned residents in Pilsen and Little Village, and this victory belongs to them.
Pollution from these coal plants has been making local residents sick for over 100 years, since way back in 1903, contributing to asthma attacks, respiratory illnesses and other health problems. The Sierra Club has worked with local community groups on an extensive organizing campaign to retire these coal plants, due to the threat they posed every day to the health of Chicago families.
So far, 120 coal plants across the country have been shuttered in the past 1.5 years.
February 29, 2012
Midwest Generation, a subsidiary of Edison International, will retire its Fisk and Crawford coal plants, two of the oldest and dirtiest coal-fired power plants in the nation. This agreement marks an historic victory for a decade-long grassroots campaign to protect Chicago residents from the harmful impacts of coal pollution. According to agreements signed by Midwest Generation, the Clean Power Coalition, and the City of Chicago, the Fisk coal plant in Pilsen will shut down in 2012 and the Crawford coal plant in Little Village will shut down by 2014.
For over ten years, thousands of Chicago residents have called on government officials and Midwest Generation to shut down the Fisk and Crawford plants. Community organizations in Pilsen and Little Village joined with environmental, health, faith, and labor groups to form the Clean Power Coalition, launching a groundbreaking grassroots campaign to make Chicago a coal-free city. In the last year, thirty-five aldermen and Mayor Rahm Emanuel took on the cause.
The retirement of Fisk and Crawford will deliver substantial public health benefits. Researchers from the Clean Air Task Force found that pollution from Fisk and Crawford causes 42 premature deaths, 66 heart attacks and 720 asthma attacks each year. One in four Chicagoans lives within a three-mile radius of the smokestacks.
The Chicago Clean Power Coalition is a growing group of organizations fighting for clean air, including: Chicago Youth Climate Coalition, Eco-Justice Collaborative. Environmental Law and Policy Center, Environment Illinois, Greenpeace, Faith in Place, Illinois Student Environmental Coalition, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Nuclear Energy Information Service, Pilsen Alliance, Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization, Protestants for the Common Good, Rainforest Action Network Chicago, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Doctor’s Council SEIU, Sierra Club, and the Southeast Environmental Task Force.
Details and Documents:
Midwest Generation Agrees to Retire Fisk and Crawford Coal Plants
February 29, 2012, Sierra Club Press Release
News Articles:
Fisk, Crawford coal plants had long history, as did battle to close them
September 2, 2012 by Julie Wernau, Chicago Tribune
Closure of Chicago's Crawford, Fisk electric plants ends coal era
August 30, 2012 by Julie Wernau, Chicago Tribune
As the Climate Warms, US Hits 120 coal Plants Heading to Retirement
August 29, 2012 by Bruce Nilles, Huffington Post
Emanuel brokers deal to shut two polluting coal fire plants
March 1, 2012 by Fran Sprielman, Chicago Sun-Times
Polluting Power Plant in Chicago Latino Neighborhood to Close
February 29, 2012 by Andrew O'Reilly, Fox News
Deal to shut Chicago's 2 coal-fired plants reached
February 29, 2012 by Tammy Webber, Associated Press
Chicago's 2 coal-fired plants to shut down sooner than expected
February 29, 2012 by Michael Hawthorne and Kristen Mack, Chicago Tribune
On Our Radar: A Coal-Free Chicago?
February 29, 2012, The New York Times
Chicago Coal Plants' Retirement Marks Huge Victory for Public Health
February 29, 2012, MikeBloomberg.com
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See other "Retiring Old Coal" cases.