E D Edwards Coal Power Plant | Illinois, USA Power Generation Facility

E D Edwards is a coal-fired power generation facility located in Illinois, United States, with a capacity of 644.3 megawatts. The plant is owned by Illinois Power Resources Generating LLC and is currently operational, serving as a significant electricity source in the region. As a coal power plant, E D Edwards operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act, including the Acid Rain Program and the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. These regulations govern emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants, requiring compliance with emission limits and monitoring. The plant's capacity places it in the medium-to-large scale for coal facilities in the U.S. Its location in central Illinois, near the Illinois River, positions it within a region with a mix of agricultural and industrial activity. The plant's role in the local grid involves providing baseload power, though coal plants face increasing regulatory and economic pressures from natural gas and renewables.

Coal power plants like E D Edwards have a significant environmental footprint due to CO2 emissions, as well as SOx and NOx that contribute to acid rain and smog. The plant's proximity to populated areas in central Illinois may affect local air quality. Its age and technology (likely subcritical or supercritical) influence efficiency and emission rates. Regulatory programs such as CSAPR aim to reduce cross-state pollution impacts.