Kiera Jefferson
Illinois is ranked 9th in the United States for the highest levels of pollution. The Prairie State Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant in Marissa, was the top climate polluter in Illinois and the 12th worst in the country in 2022. The state also faces water pollution, with many Illinois rivers, streams, and lakes contaminated with E. coli bacteria, mercury, and other harmful substances. Transportation and electricity generation are the two most polluting sectors in Illinois, with cars, trucks, and buses being significant contributors to air pollution. Climate change is already impacting Illinois, and people of color and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution and extreme heat. While Illinois faces significant pollution challenges, there are ongoing efforts to transition to clean energy and reduce emissions.
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What You'll Learn
Prairie State Generating Station
The facility has seen an improvement from its 2021 ranking, where it was listed as the 8th worst polluter in the country. However, recent data from 2023 shows that Prairie State has jumped back up to the 7th worst climate polluter in the nation, with an increase in its greenhouse gas emissions.
Prairie State Energy Campus, the operator of the power station, claims to set a new standard for clean coal production. They emphasize their use of modern technology to generate cleaner electricity for their member communities. The campus is owned by non-profit municipal utilities and electric cooperatives, with a mission to create a sustainable energy future.
Despite these claims, Prairie State has faced criticism and legal challenges. In March 2023, the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit against the Prairie State Generating Company, alleging that the power station had been operating illegally for almost a decade without a required permit that sets critical pollutant emission limits. Additionally, the high construction and electricity costs associated with the project have burdened communities with expensive dirty energy.
There is a planned closure date for the Prairie State facility by 2045, as mandated by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) signed into law by Governor Pritzker in 2021. This aligns with broader trends of declining coal usage and the rise of clean energy sources in the United States.
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Chicago's air pollution
Chicago has a long history of unhealthy air pollution, dating back to the city's industrialization in the late nineteenth century. During this period, the city relied on burning dirty coal to heat buildings, run motor engines, and power steel mills. The soot produced by burning coal enveloped Chicago in a toxic cloud, leading to increased instances of pneumonia, asthma, and heart and lung diseases.
While the city was among the first to implement anti-pollution regulations as early as 1881, more significant reductions in pollution were realized after World War II when coal usage began to decline. The establishment of the Department of Air Pollution Control in 1959, subsequent regulations, and more recent city and state legislation have helped further mitigate emissions.
Today, Chicago's air pollution levels are a fraction of their historical highs. However, recent years have shown a worsening trend, with particle pollution nearly doubling since 2017. Chicago's air quality is now worse than Los Angeles, a city well-known for its pollution challenges. The city has also struggled to comply with federal ozone standards, with the US EPA deeming it 'nonattainment' in 2019 due to exceeding unhealthy air pollution levels.
While Illinois's top climate polluter is the Prairie State coal plant in Marissa, which ranked 12th worst in the nation in 2022, there are two other significant polluters in the Chicagoland area: the Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill in Burns Harbor and the U.S. Steel Corporation steel mill in Gary.
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Water pollution
One of the key issues is nutrient pollution, caused by excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus entering water bodies. These nutrients come from various sources, including agricultural runoff, sewage treatment plants, and industrial activities. When nitrogen and phosphorus levels in water increase, it can lead to excessive algae growth, known as "algae blooms." This algae overgrowth blocks sunlight, depletes oxygen levels, and can produce toxins, rendering drinking water sources unusable and endangering aquatic life. Illinois is the top contributor of nitrogen and phosphorus to the "'dead zone'" in the Gulf of Mexico, highlighting the significant impact of its nutrient pollution.
Agricultural practices play a significant role in water pollution in Illinois. Despite a decrease in nitrogen and phosphorus from point sources, non-point agricultural runoff has increased, driving up overall nutrient pollution levels. The state's strategy to reduce agricultural pollution has been criticised for relying on a voluntary approach rather than mandatory regulations, indicating a failure to address this pressing issue effectively.
In addition to nutrient pollution, Illinois's water resources face contamination from various other sources. Groundwater is contaminated with pesticides, solvents, petroleum, nitrate, fluoride, salt, metals, bacteria, and viruses. Untreated urban runoff contributes to water pollution by introducing sediment, oil, grease, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals into water bodies. Coal mining ash ponds, wastewater runoff, and coal slurry also result in the leaching of chemicals into water systems, impacting the Great Lakes basin, which boasts a diverse biological ecosystem.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and state government have been criticised for not taking public health and environmental concerns seriously enough. While low-income and vulnerable communities bear the brunt of water pollution, the state has been accused of prioritising the agriculture industry over its people. There is a growing need for stricter regulations, robust enforcement, and increased public access to pollution data to empower citizens to take legal action when necessary.
To address water pollution in Illinois, several measures should be implemented. Firstly, the state should fully enforce existing clean water laws and ensure regulatory agencies have aggressive inspection and enforcement programs with meaningful consequences for illegal polluters. Secondly, Illinois should focus on achieving its nutrient loss reduction strategy goals by reducing nitrogen and phosphorus loading in its rivers and streams. Finally, the state should increase public access to pollution data and decision-making processes, enabling citizens to play an active role in protecting their water resources.
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Fossil fuels
Illinois is a major consumer of fossil fuels and is one of the biggest polluters in the United States. The Prairie State coal plant in Marissa, Illinois, is the worst climate polluter in the state and ranked 7th in the nation for greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. The state's industrial sector, which includes petroleum refining, coal mining, and agriculture, uses the most energy of any end-use sector in Illinois. The state ranks 4th in the nation in crude oil refining capacity, with its 4 refineries processing nearly 1 million barrels of crude oil per day. Illinois also consumes the 6th most petroleum of any state, with the transportation sector accounting for almost three-fourths of this consumption.
The state's coal mines account for 6% of total US coal production, and coal underlies 65% of Illinois. Coal mining has severe environmental and health impacts, including water pollution, destruction of farmland, and air pollution. Outdated pollution control technologies are unable to effectively treat wastewater before it is discharged into waterways, leading to surface and groundwater contamination. Coal ash, containing heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, has been detected in groundwater at multiple coal-fired power plants in Illinois, threatening both wildlife and human health.
Frac sand mining is another environmental concern in Illinois, threatening state parks and the Illinois River Valley. The process involves blasting and trucking, creating noise and dust pollution, and disturbing the local flora and fauna. It also draws down and pollutes water resources, destroys topsoils, and exposes the area to toxic chemicals and airborne particulate matter.
Illinois is making some progress towards renewable energy sources, with solar power generation accounting for 13% of the state's renewable electricity in 2023. However, the state's continued reliance on fossil fuels and its associated pollution remains a significant issue.
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Clean energy transition
Illinois has made significant progress in transitioning to clean energy, with a particular focus on renewable energy sources. The Prairie State Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant in Marissa, Illinois, was the state's top climate polluter and one of the worst in the country. However, coal-burning plants are on the decline, and Illinois is actively promoting the development of renewable energy sources.
The Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), signed into law in 2016, is a key piece of legislation in Illinois' clean energy transition. FEJA aims to build new clean energy resources and open up opportunities for low-income communities to participate in the clean energy economy. The act includes the Illinois Solar for All Program, which prioritizes solar development and job training in economically disadvantaged communities. Additionally, Illinois has a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that requires specified electric utilities and suppliers to obtain a certain percentage of electricity from renewable sources. By 2025, renewable sources must make up 25% of overall electric sales, with a focus on wind and solar energy.
The Illinois Clean Energy Dashboard, owned and operated by the Illinois Power Agency, provides a data visualization platform for residents, businesses, and stakeholders to track the progress and impact of renewable energy development in the state. Illinois Shines, a program within the Illinois RPS, prioritizes equity by ensuring that clean energy companies meet minimum equity requirements and support Equity Eligible Contractors and persons in renewable programs.
Illinois has also passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which took effect in 2021, further ramping up renewable energy development while prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The state has set a date for the closure of the Prairie State coal plant by 2045, as outlined in the CEJA. Additionally, new rules announced by the Biden administration will require existing coal-fired plants and new gas-powered plants to significantly reduce their carbon pollution by 2032 or face shutdown by 2039.
While Illinois has made strides in transitioning to clean energy, there are still challenges to overcome. The state has a growing energy problem, with rising costs and increasingly extreme weather. Additionally, Illinois faces water pollution issues, with many surface and groundwater resources impaired or degraded by contaminants such as bacteria, pesticides, and nutrients from fertilizer runoff. However, with strong policies, incentives, and a focus on equity, Illinois is working towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Illinois is one of the biggest polluters in the United States. It is ranked 9th in the country for the highest levels of pollution.
The greatest sources of pollution in Illinois are transportation and electricity generation. Cars, trucks, and buses on the road contribute to oil, grease, and toxins that enter the waterways through untreated urban runoff. Vehicle emissions also contain carbon monoxide, the most common man-made greenhouse gas.
Illinois has taken some steps to address air pollution, with the state's Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and the Partners for Clean Air Act monitoring air quality during the summer months and alerting the public when pollution levels increase. Chicago, the most populous city in Illinois, has been ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the nation due to high levels of ozone.
