May 2018
Rachel O’Reilly, Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance volunteer, spoke at a press conference held before the Ameren Shareholders Meeting began May 3rd at the Peoria Civic Center. Heart of Illinois Sierra volunteers, other members of Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance, Prairie Rivers Network and Sierra staff from Illinois and Missouri combined efforts to focus on coal ash concerns. Andrew Rehn, Prairie Rivers Network, Champaign, spoke about heavy metals in coal ash and concerns for groundwater contamination. The map he presented clearly shows many coal ash locations of concern across Illinois.
Andy Knott, Sierra Club staff member from Missouri, pointed out that events with Duke Energy and the TVA have shown that coal ash cleanup has significant risks and huge costs. He mentioned the Kingston, Tenessee, coal ash disaster and its ongoing aftermath.
The meeting agenda had a repeat of a shareholder resolution requiring that Ameren report on coal ash. The good news is the resolution passed! Ameren has six months to compile a report on the environmental impacts of coal ash on the areas it serves and include financial risks. The report will cover downstate Illinois areas served by Ameren and their service areas in Missouri, which include much of that state.