Quad City air conditioners have been working overtime for weeks.
Demanding lots of electricity from power plants.
Now some of those plants are struggling to cool themselves.
The hot sun has warmed up rivers and lakes that act as the "air conditioning" for power plants.
That's forcing Illinois to ease some of its environmental rules.
Power plants from across the state have had to ask Illinois for permission to release higher temperature water into rivers and lakes, and the Quad Cities nuclear power plant is no exception.
"For the month of July and August, the downstream temperature limit is 86 degrees," says senior environmental specialist Mark Stuhlman.
But the river temperature coming into the plant is already 87 degrees and the water will be heated another degree when the plant's done with it. Those warm waters worry the state.
"Higher temperatures can ultimately kill fish or other aquatic life," says Illinois Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Maggie Carson.
But power plants relying on rivers can't help it when the water is warmer than it's supposed to be. The state is allowing the Quad Cities nuclear power plant an extra five degrees on its permit. But they have to watch the river for any dead fish.
"If you see any five, ten, fifteen, all in one gathering that's all out of the ordinary," says Stuhlman.
Power plant spokesman Bill Stoermer says, "We had to get one earlier this year in March, which is almost unheard of in the history of this plant and that's just because this has been a very challenging, warmer than normal season."
He says the plant takes protecting the Mississippi seriously. But without the higher temperature limits, the plant would have to cut back on power production. Potentially causing problems down the line.
"The grid itself is challenged with meeting the demands of customers throughout America, not only the Midwest."
And Stoermer says until they get some clouds and wind, the river will continue to stay warm.
"It comes down to a choice of ensuring that we can provide electric service to customers in northern Illinois and eastern Iowa and protecting the Mississippi River."
If after an investigation the state finds that a power plant was responsible for a fish kill and didn't take the necessary precautions, they could start levying fines.
The Cordova plant is not the only one affected.
Five other power plants 2 in Joliet, 1 in Dresden,1 in Will county and 1 in Peoria have also had to ask the state for higher temperature limits.
