Vistra to shutter 4 Illinois coal plants, totaling over 2,000 MW

Vistra Energy will shutter four coal plants totaling more than 2,000 MW, in order to comply with changes to the Multi-Pollutant Standard (MPS) rule enacted by the Illinois Pollution Control Board in June, the company announced Wednesday. The rule changes allow four of Vistra's other coal plants to continue operating, but will slash SO2 and NOx emissions from the company's fleet by 57% and 61%, respectively. Carbon dioxide emissions will also be cut by about 40%, relative to 2018 levels, though it was not specifically required by the MPS rule. Vistra plans to take the plants offline by the end of the year, though it will require approval from the Midcontinent ISO and PJM Interconnection, along with certain tariff changes that must be authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.