ALTON – The latest development on the Anzu Power facility in Alton was brought to light at this week’s City Council meeting.
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Alton Mayor David Goins said at the council’s Aug. 12, 2026 meeting that Anzu Power is renewing their efforts to seek a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
“They have submitted an application for a permit,” Goins said. “It was initially denied and they resubmitted it, and it’s under evaluation.”
On March 25, 2026, City Council members postponed a special use permit requested by Anzu Power to build and operate a petroleum product manufacturing facility at 8 Cut Street. Alderman Michael Velloff said critical permits had been bypassed before construction started on the site, while community members voiced concerns about the proposed plant’s environmental impact.
“Once something like this is operational, you cannot undo environmental damage easily or at all,” local business owner Denise Sparks said at the time. “If something goes wrong, it’s not the Planning Commission that pays the price, it’s not City Hall that breathes the air or drinks the water – it’s the residents, it’s the businesses, it’s all of us.”
The council then agreed to postpone consideration of the site’s special use permit until an environmental impact statement has been prepared, a public hearing has been held on the environmental impact statement, and all necessary environmental clearances and permits have been obtained.
Sparks raised further concerns at the council’s May 13, 2026 meeting that exterior construction appeared to be continuing at the site despite the city issuing a “stop work” order on April 7, 2026. She called for more transparency and accountability from city leaders, who she accused of “selective enforcement” regarding regulations on local businesses.
A full recording of the Aug. 12, 2026 Alton City Council meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.
