Exelon: Lawmakers Have Less than Two Weeks to Save Nuke Plants
Exelon confirmed Wednesday lawmakers have less than two weeks to pass a package of subsidies to save nuclear plants in Byron and Dresden near Morris.
Hours after lawmakers left Springfield without a final deal on an energy bill, Exelon confirmed it would begin closing nuclear plants within two weeks unless the General Assembly reaches an agreement.
In a statement released Wednesday, Exelon said it would close the Byron nuclear plant in less than two weeks if the legislature doesn’t pass a bill to help keep nuclear energy generation competitive.
“While we currently have no choice but to continue preparing for [Byron and Dresden’s] premature retirement, we have established off-ramps that will allow us to reverse that decision if lawmakers pass legislation with enough time for us to safely refuel the plants. To be clear, Byron will run out of fuel and will permanently shut down on September 13 unless legislation is enacted. We have been clear that we cannot refuel Byron on September 13 or Dresden in November absent policy changes,” the company said in a statement.
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris), who has been an advocate for keeping nuclear plants open and operating says the House needs to take up legislation passed by the Senate early Wednesday morning even without the Governor’s support.
“They need a bill that shows the state of Illinois values nuclear to reduce our carbon footprint,” Rezin said Wednesday afternoon. '“The House is just going to have to take up and pass the bill if they want to keep the nuclear plants open then come back and make adjustments sooner or later. Time is very vital here for jobs, for cleaner energy, and for the communities that depend on these facilities.”
The bill passed by the Senate early Wednesday includes nearly $700 million in subsidies for the nuclear plants owned by Exelon, the parent company of Commonwealth Edison, which was embroiled in a bribery scandal last year.
The subsidies are said to help keep nuclear competitive with cheaper, but dirtier, coal and natural gas producers.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Chris Welch has not returned a message on his plans for the bill.
