Chicago’s last 2 coal plants to close in September

Chicago’s last coal-fired power plants will close earlier than expected.

Midwest Generation announced Wednesday that the Crawford and Fisk generating stations will close in September. The company already had agreed to close Fisk by the end of the year and Crawford by the end of 2014.

Spokesman Charley Parnell said the decision was strictly economic. But health advocates celebrated the decision, saying it will bring relief to residents who have been exposed to pollution.

Parnell said the closures will affect about 200 employees. Unionized workers will be able to bump into jobs at other Midwest facilities based on seniority.

He said it will take about three months to decommission the facilities once they’re offline.

The city has appointed a task force to consider ways to redevelop the sites.