Three coal fired power plants in the region are set to be closed over the next several years.
The plan is part of Vistra Energy Corporation's comprehensive plan to accelerate its transition to clean power generation sources and advance efforts to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.
Vistra says by year-end 2025 or sooner, it plans to close power plants at Baldwin in Randolph County, at Joppa in Massac County and by year-end 2027 or sooner it plans to take down the Newton Power Plant in Jasper County. These three and the Kincaid Power Plant in Christian County, also targeted for closure, employ about 400 people.
Vistra hopes to invest in the state through the Illinois Coal to Solar Energy Storage Act, which stalled in the General Assembly last year.