Lower Silver Creek Watershed
(Photo courtesy of The HeartLands Conservancy)

Regulators reject power auction restructuring

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Feb. 2, rejected a proposal by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the electrical power grid operator for central and southern Illinois as well as 14 other states, to restructure an annual surplus power auction that ultimately plays a role in determining the electric rates paid by consumers.

The action involved a plan floated by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, known as MISO, the power grid operator in Central and Southern Illinois and 14 other states.

Each spring, MISO holds an auction to determine “capacity” costs for the following business year (June 1 through May 31). Capacity costs are fees wrapped into electricity prices that ensure power plants produce enough energy when demand is high.

Under the plan rejected by the federal regulatory commission last week, MISO proposed creating a special auction for Michigan and Illinois, which would have determined prices three years ahead of time. The present auction system would be retained in the other 13 states served by the power grid.

In its ruling, FERC said that MISO failed to show that the proposal was “just and reasonable.” The plan would have resulted in excessive price volatility and uncertainty, the commission added.

The ruling was heralded by the Illinois Citizens Utility Board which contends the proposal was the result of pressure from big power generators who are unhappy with Illinois’ relatively low power prices.

The change would have “cost Central and Southern Illinois customers millions of dollars in higher power bills. We have a long way to go to improve Illinois’ electric markets, but FERC’s ruling is a step in the right direction. This is a big win for Illinois consumers and their power bills,” and CUB Executive Director David Kolata.

The MISO auction system has also been criticized for adversely affecting revenues to some smaller power generators such as the Dynegy facilities at Wood River and Baldwin, Ill.

Landmark Belleville restaurant closing

A Belleville institution, family-owned Fischer’s Restaurant, 2100 W. Main St., is scheduled to close Feb. 15, after more than 80 years in business.  The 30,000-square-foot restaurant and banquet center and about three acres of land are scheduled to be sold at auction on March 2.  

Fischer’s was run for many years by Belleville civic leader Kenny Fischer, who died in January 2016.  It is still widely used for community group meetings, wedding receptions and other functions. Fischer’s daughters, Annette Allan and Kathy Bingheim, announced plans to close the restaurant last month.

Madison County offers e-mail road project updates

The Madison County Highway Department is now offering online advisories on road construction projects, according to County Engineer Mark Gvillo.

“The Highway Department works hard to minimize the disruption caused by road construction and in doing so, wants to keep everyone apprised of construction projects and timelines, Gvillo said.

The department’s new road construction webpage (http://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/highway2/road_closures.php) lists capital improvement projects throughout the county, including the name of the city, road, location, type of construction, start date and estimated end dates.

The site also notes when roads are closed completely for construction means and when construction will result in traffic delays.  Project ends dates may be important for road users to check as they could change due to inclement weather, Gvillo notes.

County residents can receive email updates on the county’s road construction projects affecting traffic by clicking on the red “subscribe for page updates,” which is located on the top right Highway Department’s Road Construction page.

Open House set on Lower Silver Creek Watershed

An Open House event on the Lower Silver Creek Watershed Plan is set for Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 6  to 8 p.m., at Klucker Hall in Shiloh.  

The Lower Silver Creek Watershed Plan is intended to strategically address water quality, flooding, erosion, and other issues in the portion of St. Clair County where water drains into Silver Creek, according to HeartLands Conservancy’s Janet Buchanan.

The Lower Silver Creek watershed includes all or parts of Belleville, Fairview Heights, Freeburg, Lebanon, Mascoutah, O’Fallon, Rentchler, Shiloh, Summerfield, and Scott Air Force Base.

The Illinois EPA last year awarded HeartLands a $500,000 grant to implement projects that address water quality and stormwater issues in the Upper Silver Creek Watershed.  Projects recommended in the watershed plan can qualify for grant funding

HeartLands is also leading the creation of Cahokia Creek and American Bottom watershed plans in Madison County.

All residents, business owners, farmers, townships officials, and municipal officials in the watershed are invited to attend.  

For more information about the Lower Silver Creek Watershed Plan, contact Janet Buchanan at (618) 566-4451, Ext. 25 or email janet.buchanan@heartlandsconservancy.org.  

Second round of grants available in Upper Silver Creek area

In a related note, the HeartLands Conservancy is opening a second sign-up period for cost-share grants to cover mitigation projects in the Upper Silver Creek Watershed in Madison County.

The Upper Silver Creek drainage area encompasses roughly 120,000 acres, including portions of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and Maryville.

The HeartLands Conservancy has received $500,000 for grants from the Illinois EPA’s 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control program. An initial grant application period last November drew about 40 applications. Because several were for the same project, money is available for a second round of grants.

Eligible projects are grassed waterways, pond, stream bank stabilization, stream channel stabilization, terraces and water and sediment control basins. The grants will reimburse a portion of construction costs spent on selected projects.

The deadline for applications is Feb. 28.

A map of property is located within the project area can be found at http://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/planning_and_development/silver_creek_cost_share_program.php.

Property owners can apply for grants by completing the application at www.surveymonkey.com/r/uppersilvercreek319, or fill out and mail in the application available at https://www.heartlandsconservancy.org/uppersilvercreek.php.

For more information about the cost share program, call (618) 566-4451, Ext. 25 or email janet.buchanan@heartlandsconservancy.org.

–Metro-East Area News Briefs–