The net generating capacity of the Meredosia energy center is 369MW including one 203MW coal-fired unit and one 166MW oil-fired unit, while the Hutsonville energy center has two coal-fired units with a net generating capacity of 151MW.
Both energy centers are part of Ameren Energy Generating Company, a subsidiary of AER.
AER said that the closure of these units is primarily the result of the expected cost of complying with the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) issued in July 2011 by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
AER president and CEO Steven Sullivan said CSAPR tightens the restrictions on SO2 and NOx emissions to the point that the company cannot continue to economically operate the power generating units.
The company also said that another factor driving the closure of operations is a lack of a multi-year capacity market managed by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator.
