The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) appeals board has approved an emissions permit for the Prairie State Energy Campus, a 1,500 MW coal-fired power plant that will be built in Illinois.

The ruling confirms that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducted a proper and thorough environmental review and that Prairie State’s advanced technologies will comply with state and federal regulations to protect the environment. Prairie State Energy Campus, near Lively Grove, would be fuelled by 6 million tonnes of coal per year from an adjacent underground mine.

Peabody Energy plans to build the $2 billion state-of-the-art facility which is expected to receive support for the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA).

Prairie State is now moving forward with selection of construction and operating partners as well as financing.