BARTONVILLE, Ill. – You might say the Edwards Power Plant is getting a bit of a re-charge.
The plant was mandated by court order to shut down by the end of 2022, but its owner is giving it a new lease on life.
25 News reports owner Vistra says they’re investing $47 million so that as much as 37 megawatts of battery power can be stored there.
And, the work is part of a plan by Vistra to have storage for up to 300 megawatts of solar power, and 150 megawatts of battery power.
The battery storage at Edwards will power about 88 jobs.
Meanwhile, the plant is currently in the process of decommissioning the coal-fired portions of the plant.
Environmental and health groups wants to see coal ash byproduct created stored in what they call a “lined” landfill, so that it won’t seep into groundwater and cause a hazard.
25 News reports Vistra has suggested covering the materials so they aren’t washed away in the rain, and keeping it where it’s stored now.
