Prairie State will use advanced emission control technologies enabling it to operate cleaner than the existing averages for U.S. coal-fueled plants, Illinois coal plants and proposed future emission limits.
A study by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale projects that Prairie State would annually inject US$93 million into the Illinois economy and create approximately 450 skilled, permanent Illinois jobs with wages estimated to be 40% higher than the state average.
"Prairie State is a model for new generating plants in America, using advanced technology to provide clean, low-cost electricity," said Peabody executive vice president of corporate development Roger Walcott. "America's improving economy, coupled with the high price of natural gas and constraints with other fuels, underscores the need for Prairie State."
Prairie State is a sister project to Peabody's planned Thoroughbred Energy Campus in Muhlenberg County, Ky. Peabody is engaged in due diligence discussions with partners that would invest in and manage operations at the two generating plants, as well as discussions to sell electricity on a long- term basis to electricity distributors including utilities, co-ops and municipals.
