Vistra is taking steps to responsibly operate, retire, and transition its Illinois fleet of power plant sites to support the state’s economic and energy needs. Vistra’s recent investments have added 570 MW of new generation and 24 MWh of energy storage at sites across the state.
Responsible Transition
Vistra has been transparent with its workers, plant communities, and regulators about changes at its Illinois fleet and has diligently managed economic, market, and regulatory factors to guide plant retirements.
Investing in Illinois Plant Sites & Communities
On a site-by-site basis, Vistra is determining the economic feasibility of renewing plant sites with less carbon-intense generation, including renewable energy technologies such as solar and energy storage.
Infrastructure Reuse
Placing new generation assets at existing plant sites enables the reuse of transmission connections and infrastructure, reducing costs and minimizing the need for new equipment installation.
Energized and Operating
Baldwin, Coffeen and Newton were awarded contracts by the Illinois Power Agency as directed by Public Act 102-0662.
Additional Development Opportunities
INVESTMENTS AT PLANT SITES SUPPORT PRESERVATION OF LOCAL TAX BASE & SUPPORT A JUST TRANSITION:
Vistra recognizes that plant retirements have a detrimental impact on energy workers and plant communities. The company is investing in its Illinois plant communities to help attain a Just Transition following the retirement of coal-fueled facilities.
Vistra supports its dedicated energy workers through this transition and is committed to an orderly and transparent plant retirement process.
So that communities that have hosted power plants for decades can economically benefit as the grid transitions, Vistra has taken a site-by-site planning approach to determine the best path forward for the responsible retirement of each of its Illinois coal plants and is creating a queue of development opportunities to redevelop and reuse the sites.
It is Vistra’s goal to find solutions for each plant community that allow for the preservation of local property taxes, to the extent economically feasible through the building of energy infrastructure projects at or adjacent to its plant sites.
RESPONSIBLE RETIREMENT PLANS DRIVEN BY SCIENCE AND LOCAL DATA
Each coal plant site has unique characteristics that guide the closure, retirement, and redevelopment process. Vistra has taken a site-by-site planning approach to determine the best path forward for the responsible retirement of each of its coal plants.
Vistra follows the science at each plant site to develop a responsible and compliant closure plan for its coal combustion residuals or “CCR” impoundments. This deliberative process includes evaluating alternative closure methods, extensive modeling, and engaging in a public review process.
Illinois regulations encourage site owners to tailor their closure plan to the unique conditions of their site to ensure the final permitted closure method protects the environment, groundwater resources, and public health. The state’s pending review of the company’s proposed impoundment closure plans will impact its ability to construct additional utility-scale renewables at retired or to-be-retired plants.