NOTICE: We are closely monitoring the guidance of the CDC and are taking precautionary measures for our members and our staff. Effective immediately we are not allowing walk-in's. Please utilize our online services or call the Hall at (217) 726-8481 if you need more assistance.
Cornerstone Open Enrollment for IBEW 51 & 193 has officially begun. Members who have not previously enrolled should be receiving a postcard in the mail going over the open enrollment and the coverages available. Open Enrollment ends on March 31st, with coverage going into effect on April 1, 2020. Cornerstone's enrollment line is 224-770-5305. The website link to enroll is live at https://uniondisability.com/groups/ibew-local-51-193/
A recap of the benefits available during this enrollment include:
Short Term Disability:
• Benefit pays on day 15 of injury or illness for up to 24 weeks.
• Flat rate benefit options of either $250 or $500 a week.
• Higher benefit option based off of a members income. 50% of your earnings.
• Stackable with other benefits up to 100% of pre-disability earnings. (Lineco, Decatur Plan, Health and Welfare, etc.)
• Tax free benefit.
Long Term Disability:
• Pays after a 180 day waiting period (Short-term goes for 180 days).
• Flat rate $2,500 benefit option for up to 5 years.
• 60% of income option for up to 10 years.
• Pre-existing conditions covered after 12 months of continually being on the plan.
• Tax free benefit.
Life Insurance w/ AD&D:
• Guaranteed approved coverage for member, spouse, and dependents.
• Member coverage up to $200,000.
• Spousal coverage of $25,000 or $50,000.
• $10,000 dependent coverage.
If a member is currently enrolled in coverage they do not need to do anything; however, changes and/or increase coverage can be done at this time.
We are collecting for Toys For Tots again this year. Please consider bringing a new toy to the Hall. All toys will be picked up December 13. Merry Christmas!
If you placed an order for an IBEW Local 51 Neon Sign, they are at the Hall and ready for pickup. Please contact us at 217--726-8481 to arrange for payment.
IRVING, Texas — August 21, 2019 — Vistra Energy (NYSE: VST) and its subsidiaries today announced the four power plants that will retire in order to meet the requirements of the recently approved revisions to the Multi-Pollutant Standard rule imposed by the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB). Without this rule change, the company’s entire downstate fleet was at risk of near imminent retirement. The company will close the following four coal-fueled power plants in Illinois: Coffeen Power Plant, Duck Creek Power Plant (in Canton), Havana Power Plant, and Hennepin Power Plant.
These plant retirements are required by the revised MPS rule, which regulates emissions at eight power plants operated by Vistra subsidiaries. The revised rule, which also calls for a reduction in annual mass caps for SO2 and NOx, requires that the company permanently shut down 2,000 MW of capacity from the eight MPS group of plants by the end of the year, pending approval by grid operators, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and PJM Interconnection, and approval of the termination of certain tariffs by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In addition, the revised rule requires adjustments of these annual caps as additional power plant units are shut down or transferred. As a result, the retirement of the four plants will further reduce annual allowable SO2 and NOx emissions in the MPS group of plants, driving total allowable emissions down by 57 and 61 percent, respectively, from that allowed under the former MPS rule. While not explicitly required by the MPS, CO2 emissions will also be significantly reduced by approximately 40 percent relative to 2018 levels.
“Even though today’s retirement announcements were inevitable due to the changing regulatory environment and unfavorable economic conditions in the MISO market, they are nonetheless difficult to make,” said Curt Morgan, Vistra’s president and chief executive officer. “By far, the hardest decisions we make in our business are those that significantly impact our people. As always, we will do right by those who are impacted by this announcement. Our employees take pride in the work they do, and we appreciate their decades of service providing reliable and affordable power to Illinois, particularly in years like this one with periods of extreme cold and heat.”
The decision to retire these four plants resulted from a plant-by-plant analysis that evaluated several factors in making retirement decisions, including ensuring compliance with the new emissions caps set forth in the revised MPS rule, plant economics, federal energy regulations, and MISO market rules. In addition, consideration was given to prioritize retirement of higher emitting plants as suggested by the IEPA and IPCB along with the other factors listed above which resulted in a balanced mix of higher and lower emitting plant retirements.
As part of the closure process, the company is filing the required notices with MISO, PJM, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If it is determined that the units are not needed for reliability, Vistra expects to cease operations at all four sites by the end of the year. The company will take the necessary steps to responsibly decommission the facilities in accordance with all federal and state regulations.
Approximately 300 jobs (159 Local 51 members) will be eliminated across the four plant sites. Vistra is providing outplacement services and working with state workforce agencies to assist the employees impacted by the closures.
Future of Plant Sites and Vistra’s Illinois Business
Plant closures can have detrimental impacts to the communities in which they are located, but Vistra aims to mitigate this impact by growing its Illinois business with newer technologies. To that end, the company continues to strongly support legislation that would provide a pathway to reinvest and repurpose its existing coal-fueled power plant sites into solar and battery energy storage facilities. Vistra has a demonstrated history of developing these new technologies in Texas and California and, through the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Act of 2019, could do the same in Illinois. This legislation would allow the company to reuse substantial transmission infrastructure and its existing footprint of available land at its coal-fueled power plants to develop renewable energy facilities, mitigating employment and property tax impacts to plant communities and helping Illinois meet its clean energy goals.
Vistra is hopeful that the Illinois General Assembly will take up the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Act during its fall Veto Session.
Congratulations to Vistra and the Local 51 members working at Hennepin Power Station! They were presented with the OSHA Star VPP site designation. A lot of work went into this effort from all sides.
Our election results are as follows:
President: Robert D. Colby, Jr.
Vice Chairman: Clay Davidson
Recording Secretary: Stacey Heckman
Treasurer: Dann Haney
Business Manager/Financial Secretary/IO Delegate: Bobby Wedell
Delegates to the IO Convention:
Chris Blount
Robert D. Colby, Jr.
Tony Cook
Wes Heckman
Tom Hocking
Tim Lynch
Corey Stone
Results of the 2019 Golf Scholarship Outing are as follows:
1st place: Colton Beams, Joe Bianco, Zach Overmyer, Walt Westfall
2nd place: Andy Buzzard, Tony Cook, John Lieb, Matt Moore
DFL: Jed Dooley, Amanda Hansen, Patrick Shinners, Bob Wedell
Longest drive: Michelle Taylor and Darren Farris
Closest to the pin: Andy Buzzard
Closest to the pin (2nd shot): Joe Bianco
Dixon Challenge: Matt Moore
Aurelius Challenge: Tony Armstrong
Longest Putt: Corey Stone
Putting Contest: Mark Dunn
Congratulations to the following members and/or their family members. We were fortunate to give eleven (11) $500 scholarships this year:
Camaren Belton, Lindenwood University (Ameren Collinsville)|
Madeline Carter, SIUE, daughter of Ian Carter (Vistra Havana)
Callie Champley, University of Illinois, daughter of Glenda Champley (Exelon Clinton)
Hunter Clifton, Illinois State University, daughter of Murray Clifton (Village of Rantoul)
Sydney Edwards, Ambrose University, daughter of Julie and Mike Cone
Britni Gortner, University of Missouri, daughter of Mark Gortner (Ameren Champaign)
Lauren Pals, Eastern Illinois University, daughter of Aaron Pals (Construction)
Bailey Parks-Moore, Murray State University, daughter of Jason Wascher (Ameren Champaign)
Chloe Reynolds, Illinois College, granddaughter of Ronda Carl (Vistra Havana)
Chesleigh Shreves, Heartland Community College, daughter of Robert Shreves (Frontier)
Kaitlyn Van Pelt, Spoon River College, daughter of Lonnie Van Pelt (Vistra Havana)
Members living in Douglas County your support is needed on the Harvest Ridge Wind Farm.
Thursday, May 30
4:00 - 5:30 p.m. – Free Supper for Project Supporters at Flesor’s Candy Kitchen (right around the corner from the Community Building at 101 W Sale St.).
6:00 p.m. – Public Hearing. Voice your support for the Wind Farm at the Tuscola Community Building, 122 W. North Central Avenue.
Monday, June 3rd
County Board Vote at 9:0a.m.
Committee Vote at 11:-00 a.m.
Full Board Vote at Tuscola Community Building
Douglas County has chosen to limit the speakers to only Douglas County residents, landowners, or business owners/operators in the County. SO, we could really use your help to attend and/or speak.
