Lakefront is the question in Waukegan

People who ask "Where will we get our power?" if the coal-fired plant in Waukegan closes are not up to speed on the facts.

Illinois is a deregulated state for electricity. Thus, merchant coal plants like the one in Waukegan sell their power into regional electricity markets. In fact, this plant has been an energy exporter for years. We in Waukegan and Lake County are not its customers.

The question is not where Waukegan will get its power. The question is, what does Waukegan want to do with its lakefront?

Waukegan's leaders say the long-awaited harbor cleanup will help us move past our reputation for a polluted lakefront. Yet these same leaders staged no fight against a plant that continues to create exactly the kind of pollution we don't want to be known for.

We need courageous leadership in Waukegan and Lake County to push NRG to come up with a long-term transition plan for the coal plant - one that maintains the tax base, provides worker transition and engages members of the community in the process of deciding what will happen next on the lakefront site.

For too long, we've kicked the can down the road and let corporations on the lakefront do what they want. If we are serious about revitalizing Waukegan, we need to be serious about creating a healthy lakefront that's free from industrial pollution.

That means setting a reasonable, long-term retirement date for the plant.

David Dallison

Waukegan