Dive Summary:

• About two-thirds of Illinois coal plants, which employ 2,000 people and contribute more than $1 billion to the economy, are approaching closure due to financial distress and face legal decisions on their futures in the next two years.
• For example, Edison Mission Energy, which has been in bankruptcy court, will likely close its unprofitable plants while St. Louis-based Ameren Corp. is trying to shed its five Ill. coal plants in a deal with Houston-based Dynegy Inc.
• "Virtually every coal plant in Illinois right now is owned by companies that are either in bankruptcy, have recently emerged from bankruptcy or whose bond ratings are approaching junk," Howard Learner, executive director of the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, told the Chicago Tribune.

From the article:

Dumoulin-Smith also said he doubts that Midwest Generation could sell them. "I don't see any real appetite for an acquisition. If there was not cash paid for the Ameren assets and the Ameren assets were materially better than the (Midwest Generation) assets, what are the (Midwest Generation) assets worth?"