Newton Power Plant
	Location
	Jasper County, Ill. Newton Plant draws its water from Newton Lake, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as the Newton Lake Fish and Wildlife area. This man-made lake provides outdoor recreational activities for boaters, anglers and hunters.
History
Construction began in 1972 and concluded in 1982. Unit 1 was placed in service in 1977; Unit 2 went into commercial operation in 1982. In 1999, Newton Power Station completed its conversion to low-sulfur Powder River Basin coal. As a result of this $30 million investment, the plant expects to reduce its sulfur dioxide emissions by 45%—while producing 15% more energy.
Operation
Coal travels through pulverizers which grind it into the consistency of face powder; the powdery coal is blown into the boiler furnace. At full capacity, the plant burns 900 tons of coal per hour to produce 8.2 million pounds of steam per hour. The boiler heats water to create steam that flows into a turbine. The turbine turns a shaft. On the end of the shaft is a magnet that revolves inside a coil to create electricity.
Fuel Type
The plant typically burns 3.5 million tons of coal annually.