nuclear-news

Illinois nuclear subsidy law – too late for Exelon’s Byron and Dresden nuclear plants

Time running out for Exelon’s Byron and Dresden nuclear plants as Illinois Senate passes major energy bill, Utiliy Dive, Sept. 2, 2021 By Scott Van Voorhis   ”’……… 

• Senate Bill 18 provides hundreds of millions in subsidies to keep the state’s nuclear power sector open, with Exelon preparing to shut down its Byron nuclear plant Sept. 13.
• But the legislation, which still needs to pass the House, faces 11th hour hurdles: Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D, is raising objections to a key part of the plan dealing with the large Prairie State coal-fired plant.

……….The Illinois Senate’s clean energy package provides more than $600 million in subsidies for renewable power-related initiatives, and nearly $700 million over five years for the state’s struggling nuclear power sector.

However, Illinois’ governor has raised objections to a key piece of the deal, which would require the municipally-owned Prairie State coal-fired plant, the largest carbon emitting power plant in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation, to shut down by 2045
ssed before Exelon moves ahead with its closure plans.

….. The governor’s objections raise the prospect of legislative negotiations going down to the wire, with roughly 10 days, or even less, for a final bill to get pa…….. Exelon, which owns six nuclear plants in the state, has said it plans to close its Byron plant on Sept. 13 unless the bill passes.

But the real deadline is even tighter than that, with the legislation needing to clear before Sept. 13 in order to keep the plant open, Exelon noted in a statement.

….. The governor’s objections raise the prospect of legislative negotiations going down to the wire, with roughly 10 days, or even less, for a final bill to get pa…….. Exelon, which owns six nuclear plants in the state, has said it plans to close its Byron plant on Sept. 13 unless the bill passes.

But the real deadline is even tighter than that, with the legislation needing to clear before Sept. 13 in order to keep the plant open, Exelon noted in a statement.

……. “To be clear, Byron will run out of fuel and will permanently shut down on September 13 unless legislation is enacted,” the spokesperson stated. “We have been clear that we cannot refuel Byron on September 13 or Dresden in November absent policy changes.”  ……………….. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/time-running-out-for-exelons-byron-and-dresden-nuclear-plants-as-illinois/605981/

September 4, 2021 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA