As his senior capstone project, John Woodall (US’17, C’21) created a documentary film about the legacy of the shuttered Wood River Station coal-fired power plant in East Alton, Illinois.

Woodall, who graduated in May with a major in digital media production, documented the story of the plant’s 2016 shutdown and more recent demolition. Wood River Station’s two coal-fueled units came on line in 1954 and 1965, respectively. The plant was a major employer—with 90 employees before it closed in 2016—and a significant threat to the health and environment of East Alton and its residents.

Years after the plant ceased to burn coal, acres of toxic coal-ash ponds remain in a flood plain at the confluence of the Wood and Mississippi Rivers. A 2010 study commissioned by the Clean Air Task Force attributed 27 deaths and hundreds of serious health incidents to the fine-particle pollution coming out of Wood River Station.

“I had driven past it a bunch of times and didn’t know anything about [the plant]. I just thought it was a really cool building,” Woodall says, reflecting on his decision to do a documentary on Wood River Station. “I spent hours and hours of time researching this site and contacting people involved with this power plant to set up time for interviews. I started filming after spring break. A huge chunk of the work was doing the research to understand the scope of the story before filming.”

The closing of Wood River Station has had devastating economic effects on East Alton and neighboring towns. The shutdown instantly dried up one-quarter of East Alton’s tax base, along with $9 million a year in payroll to locals who averaged $100,000 working at the plant, according to East Alton Mayor Joe Silkwood who is featured in the documentary.

Through thoughtful conversations with elected officials, activists, and concerned citizens, Woodall unearthed a riveting story of human interest and grave concern that’s playing out across the larger United States where 339 coal-fired plants have either been retired or are in the process of closing down. Two decades ago, the number of plants reached a high of 530.

Woodall researched, filmed, and produced the documentary, which he titled “Wood River Station.” Woodall aired the documentary at a July 13 virtual speaker event for the Piasa Palisades Group of the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club and led an online discussion about the demolished plant.

“This documentary that is so beautifully produced and so professional … is quite impressive,” says Virginia Woulfe-Beile, co-coordinator of Three Rivers Project of Piasa Palisades Group. “John did really great research and networking beforehand and did the whole documentary in 14 weeks in the middle of a pandemic—just another reason to commend him.”

Woodall’s film will help local and national environmental and citizen groups educate communities facing coal-plant retirements, Woulfe-Beile says. She hopes to use the documentary in an ongoing effort to strengthen an Illinois bill to require 60-day notices to the Environmental Protection Agency and local residents before commencing demolition of coal-fired power plants.

“Wood River Station,” also made an impact back at the Principia Film Festival on campus where Woodall took top honors. Woodall claimed “Best Story” and “Viewer’s Choice” awards.

An Individualized Major Made It All Possible

Woodall graduated from the Upper School with a love for the film medium and considered studying film at Emerson College in Boston where he was accepted. Film was a high priority for Woodall, but he wanted more. “I knew I wanted to study film and video, but film school didn't feel like the right option,” he says. “I wanted to get a full college experience and not just a film school.”

Although videography is not currently offered as a major at the College, Woodall was able to craft a digital-media production major through the College’s Individualized Majors and Minors program (IMs). Through the program, students work with faculty/staff advisors to design their own individualized major or use existing models previously established by other students.

When asked to describe his customized college experience, Woodall answers immediately: “Involved, challenged, connected.”

Woodall, a native Californian, hopes to move to Colorado and start looking for his next documentary subject. No matter where Woodall’s cameras lead him, it’s clear that his impact on the local community will last for years

To watch Woodall’s film, visit: Wood River Station - A Documentary