Environmental Leader

Midwest Generation in Illinois is being sued by federal and state lawyers for emitting noxious smoke at six plants, reports the Chicago Tribune. Lawyers allege that the power company has repeatedly upgraded the Fisk plant, which burns coal to generate electricity, without modern pollution controls required under the Clean Air Act, according to the article.

In addition to the Fisk plant, the suit cites the Crawford plant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, and plants in Joliet, Romeoville, Waukegan and Downstate Pekin, reports the Chicago Tribune. The noxious smoke emitted from the plants makes them some of the biggest contributors to air pollution in the Chicago area, according to federal records, reports the Chicago Tribune.

In a statement, Midwest Generation, a subsidiary of California-based Edison International, said its prior agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is “as tough or tougher” than settlements the federal government has brokered with other power companies, reports the newspaper.

Midwest Generation is the third power company to face tougher inspection by the EPA under Obama’s administration, according to the Chicago Tribune.