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Ameren sells Edwards coal plant

By Josh Simon
March 14, 2013 Updated Mar 14, 2013 at 10:53 PM CDT

BARTONVILLE, Ill. -- Ameren has reached an agreement with Dynegy to take over the companies Illinois power generating business.

Ameren will not receive any cash in return for the five coal-fired plants but the company will benefit from transferring $825 million dollars in debt to Houston, Texas based Dynegy.

Among the plants being transferred is the Edwards coal plant in Bartonville. Members of the "Heart of Illinois Sierra Club" and "Peoria families against Toxic Waste" are concerned that the change in ownership will slow down the clean-up process.

"We think rather than seeing this go forward and shift again, it's time for Ameren to shutter the plant, begin looking at how to make a just transition for the workers and how to clean up the site so it can be used for something that represents the direction that Central Illinois needs to go," said "Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste" member Tracy Fox.

The deal is still subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

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