Introduction to the Controversy
Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez says he’ll attempt to block a demolition permit for a former coal plant in Pilsen until more details are released about potential environmental impact and the building owner reveals the long-term plan for the site.
Background on the Pilsen Coal Plant
NRG Energy has asked the city for permission to destroy 13 structures around the idled Fisk coal-fired power plant which provided electricity for more than a century until it closed in 2012. Sigcho-Lopez (25th) said Monday that he wants NRG to tell the community what it plans to do with the plant, which is located at 1111 W. Cermak Road along the South Branch of the Chicago River. The main building, the largest structure, is not part of the recently announced demolition plan.
Concerns About the Demolition Process
“Before they even start, we’re asking to hold the permits immediately so we know what are their plans?” Sigcho-Lopez said in an interview. “We want to halt all permits until we have a detailed and serious conversation.” The city’s public health department is charged with overseeing that the demolition doesn’t produce excess dust that escapes the demolition site or puts residents at risk. The Department of Buildings also has to sign off on the plan. Both departments are overseeing the nearby demolition of the Damen Silos, which is in the final stages of being torn down.
Community Demands for Transparency
Community members want detailed reports about what toxic metals or chemicals may be released into the air once a demolition begins. They also want a detailed dust-control plan before the work is approved. Soil should be tested for harmful materials ahead of any city approvals, they say. “We do not want any of the permits to be approved without these demands” being met, said Rose Gomez, a community activist with Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization.
Future Plans for the Site
Gomez said community residents also want a nonpolluting entity to eventually replace the coal plant on the river. An NRG spokesperson declined to comment. City officials could not be reached Monday. Both the proposed Fisk partial demolition and the teardown of the massive historic Damen Silos are considered “environmentally complex” because of the risks involved.
Past Experiences with Demolitions
The term was added to the city’s demolitions procedures following the botched implosion of another coal plant, Crawford, in Little Village in 2020. That operation left the Little Village community coated in a thick blanket of dust.
Conclusion
Pilsen advocates want a detailed report on potential environmental and health hazards caused by a partial teardown of an idle coal plant in their neighborhood. The community is seeking transparency and accountability from NRG Energy and the city to ensure that the demolition process does not harm the environment or the residents.
FAQs
Q: What is the current status of the Pilsen coal plant?
A: The Pilsen coal plant has been idle since 2012 and NRG Energy has requested permission to demolish 13 structures on the site.
Q: What are the concerns of the community?
A: The community is concerned about the potential environmental and health hazards caused by the demolition, including the release of toxic metals and chemicals, and the lack of transparency about the long-term plans for the site.
Q: What is being done to address these concerns?
A: Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez has threatened to block the demolition permit until more details are released, and community activists are demanding a detailed report on potential hazards and a dust-control plan.
Q: What is the city’s role in the demolition process?
A: The city’s public health department and Department of Buildings are responsible for overseeing the demolition to ensure that it does not produce excess dust or put residents at risk.
