By B. Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – Environmental groups say two power plants in the Metro East are the area's largest sources of air pollution - and they want the state to take action.
A public hearing was held this week on new clean air permits for Dynegy Midwest Generation's Wood River and Baldwin power plants. Kathy Andria, with American Bottom Conservancy, says her group and others used the opportunity to tell regulators how the coal-burning plants are endangering the health of Metro East residents.
"What we're asking is to have these plants, have them cleaned up, have them re-powered with cleaner technology or to put extreme controls on them because for the most part, there are very little controls," Andria said.
A spokesman for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says it is unlikely that any changes will be required of the Dynegy plants in order for the new permits to be issued.