By Joyce Blumenshine

New Report Has Reasons Why Edwards and other Vistra Closed Coal Plants Had No Battery Back-Up or Solar Installed, in Spite of Significant State Support to Do So

Did you ever see a social media post asking support for a battery back-up installation at the Edwards closed coal plant or solar at the Duck Creek plant which was closed by Vistra for economic reasons? The Illinois Coal to Solar Energy Storage Initiative was intended to enable closed coal plants transition to new uses that would provide property taxes for the area and employment. The recent Prairie Rivers Network and the University of Illinois Climate Jobs Institute report Status Update on Illinois Coal to Solar Energy Storage Initiative researches why only 3 of 11 projects were ever completed. Key factors for the failures of corporations to proceed are listed as state policy design issues including funding not tied to market conditions, narrow eligibility for the programs, and the need for more flexible incentives.

The Prairie Rivers Network website on the report quotes staff member Amanda Pankau, regarding concerns for the status of coal ash clean-up and ongoing water pollution at sites: “There’s still a lot of work to do. Coal ash cleanup is unresolved at most of these sites, and until decisions are made and actions are taken to ensure groundwater pollution is resolved, some of the land at these sites will not be good candidates for redevelopment of any kind,” Pankau said.

Heart of Illinois Sierra volunteer Joyce Blumenshine wonders if national politics with changing views on clean energy could have been a factor impacting corporate will to proceed with the projects. In early 2026, the U.S. EPA announced plans to extend allowing disposal of toxic coal ash in unlined pits until 2031 at the Kincaid, Newton, and Baldwin coal plants owned by Vistra Corporation. Did the companies have some hint or see the ‘writing on the wall’ and an opportunity to wring more dollars out of their existing old coal plants?