Business & Tech
Energy Company: Pollution-Reduction Plan Means Job Cuts in Romeoville, Joliet
NRG Energy said changes are coming to four Illinois coal-fired power stations.
Photo credit: Screenshot, www.nrg.com
NRG Energy this week said it will cease coal operations at one generating unit in Romeoville and convert its Joliet plant to burn natural gas as part of a pollution-reduction plan.
The company will also upgrade two coal plants in Pekin and Waukegan to comply with environmental regulations in an effort to meet new proposed federal limits on carbon dioxide pollution, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Find out what's happening in Bolingbrookfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The company said about 250 jobs will be eliminated, with the largest reductions in Romeoville and Joliet.
Compared with 2013 levels, the changes will reduce carbon emissions by 16 million tons per year by 2020, “the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road,” the company said in a statement.
Find out what's happening in Bolingbrookfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
NRG took ownership of the four coal-fired power stations in April.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
