South West Illinois News

State Representative David Friess commented on Vistra's decision to keep the Baldwin Power Plant operational through 2027. He made this statement in a Facebook post dated December 19.

"The Baldwin Power Plant has been a cornerstone of our local economy for decades, and I am grateful for Vistra's decision to extend its operations," said Friess, according to Facebook. "This move provides continued employment opportunities for hundreds of families in our community and ensures the reliability of our energy grid. Coal is good, reliable energy and I'm grateful for this extension as we work towards what comes next."

Friess shared a link to a news release from his office, which noted that the extension of the Baldwin Power Plant’s operations is expected to maintain 298 full-time jobs and generate more than $41 million in income for local workers. It is also projected to contribute $262 million to the region’s economic output. Solar projects associated with this extension are anticipated to generate $6 million in property tax revenue as well.

Screenshot of State Rep. David Friess' Dec. 19 Facebook post | State Representative David Friess' Facebook page

On December 17, Vistra announced that they had connected two utility-scale solar facilities to the grid, extending operations of the 1,185-megawatt Baldwin Power Plant through 2027, instead of retiring it in 2025. "Vistra is committed to the responsible transition of our fleet in Illinois, and in this case, the most reasonable path forward is to continue to operate the plant as a reliable bridge to 2027, as we, and others, bring new generation assets online in the state," said Jim Burke, President and CEO of Vistra. Burke added that many organizations have recently raised concerns over reliability and resource adequacy in central and southern Illinois. "We are taking action and delivering solutions that balance the needs of reliability, affordability, and sustainability," he said.

In 2020, Vistra announced plans for closing both Baldwin and Joppa power plants by 2025. According to WSILTV reports, Vista Energy acquired ownership of these plants in 2018. "Our team members have gone above and beyond to make these plants viable," said Burke at that time when he was COO of Vistra. He mentioned that they have been safely powering communities with affordable electricity for decades. The advance notice provided ample time for working with impacted employees and communities to ease closure impacts.

David Friess is a lifelong resident of Illinois residing in Red Bud with his family. He actively participates in several organizations including the Red Bud Veterans of Foreign Wars and Chester American Legion. After serving as an aircraft mechanic during Operation Desert Storm with both Air Force and Air Force Reserves, he worked at Delta Airlines before pursuing higher education in criminal justice and law.