Grundy Reporter

Republic lawmakers are demanding negotiators return to the table to hammer out a deal that keeps a pair of area nuclear plants open beyond the next three months.

Both owned by Exelon Generation, the Byron plant is slated to shut down in September and the one in Dresden is scheduled to shutter in November.

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is among those warning the closures would prove to be to the detriment of residents across the state.

“We must keep our nuclear fleet open,” Rezin (R-Morris) posted on Facebook. “Our state and its residents cannot afford to let these plants be decommissioned. According to modeling by Vibrant Clean Energy, LLC, who has done consulting for multiple state governments, the federal government, utilities and companies, 70 percent of Illinois customers will pay billions more to reach 100 percent carbon-free energy without reliable nuclear energy.”

Joining Rezin in demanding that more be done to keep the plants afloat are state Sen. Brian Stewart (R-Freeport), Deputy House Republican Leader Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) and House Republican Conference Chair Leader David Welter (R-Morris).

As a group, the four released a statement warning “If action is not taken soon, tens of thousands of workers will lose their livelihoods, millions of utility customers across Illinois will begin paying higher energy costs, and we will all suffer an immediate environmental impact equivalent to putting 4.4 million additional cars on the road, emitting carbon and other harmful sources of air pollution. Too much is at stake to wait for the demands of every individual interest group to be satisfied in a comprehensive energy package.”

As revenue losses at both facilities soared into the hundreds of millions, Exelon Generation recently filed for decommission at Byron, one of the final steps in officially ending operations. In taking such a drastic step, company officials also warned that a similar fate could soon hit plants in Braidwood and LaSalle if lawmakers still don’t act quickly.

“With no signs of a breakthrough on clean energy legislation in Springfield, we have no choice but to take these final steps in preparation for shutting down the plants,” said Exelon Generation Chief Nuclear Officer Dave Rhoades.