Grundy Reporter

Exelon Generation – the nation’s largest electricity producer using a combination of power sources including fossil fuel, wind and solar – is closing two of its nuclear plants in Illinois after being outbid by traditional fossil fuel companies.

The nuclear plant near Byron is set to close in September 2021 and the Dresden plant near Morris will close in November 2021.

“Although we know in our heads that shutting down the uneconomic Illinois plants is necessary to preserve even more jobs elsewhere, our hearts ache today for the thousands of talented women and men that have served Illinois families for more than a generation and will lose their jobs because of poorly conceived energy policies,” Christopher Crane, president and CEO of Exelon, said on the company’s website. “But we are only about a year away from shutdown and we need to give our people, the host communities, and regulators time to prepare.”

The two plants employ more than 1,500 workers and 2,000 support personnel, the report said. It is estimated the two plants provide 30% of Illinois carbon-free power and pay out $63 million in taxes to support schools, police, fire and other services. 

The report indicated the plants are closing because of declining profitability. Projected budget shortfalls are looming because of dropping energy prices and “underbidding” for power from polluting fossil fuel generators, even though there is broad support from the public for clean energy.

The website said recent rulings by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission further eroded state clean energy programs giving an advantage in bidding to polluting energy sources.

Dresden had a license to operate for 10 years and Byron for another 20.

“We agree with Gov. (J.B) Pritzker that policy reform is urgently needed to address the climate crisis and advance Illinois’ clean energy economy, and we support the objectives of the Governor’s recent energy principles,” Crane said. “That’s separate from today’s announcement to retire these two zero-carbon nuclear plants, which was not a decision made lightly and is one that has been in the works for some time.”