By KEVIN BESSLER
Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — Illinois generates more electricity from nuclear power than any other state in the country, but some say it isn’t enough to meet the state’s energy needs.
Legislation that would have lifted a moratorium on the building of large-scale nuclear facilities failed to get through the Illinois General Assembly this spring.
“Nuclear energy is safe, efficient and essential for a stable energy grid and lower costs for consumers,” said the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris. “It’s time to move forward and finally end the ban on nuclear energy.”
In 2023, Illinois lifted a partial moratorium on nuclear power development, specifically for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said that he would be open to expanding nuclear power in the state.
“We’re looking forward to having a bill that comes to my desk that will allow us to expand the options for nuclear in the state of Illinois, but it has to be done in the right way,” said Pritzker.
But David Kraft, director of the Illinois-based Nuclear Energy Information Service, said in light of President Donald Trump signing Executive Orders which effectively gut the regulatory power of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), there is no “right way.”
“The questionable level of current regulation, and now the further erosion of even that via the Executive Orders are not the conditions calling for more nuclear power,” said Kraft.
He added that current reactors are showing signs of aging and new reactors would require greater oversight during start-up phase, and with reduced regulatory oversight, neither will be safe.
A nuclear facility in central Illinois is making headlines. An agreement was just announced by Facebook’s parent company and Constellation Energy Illinois that involves the Clinton Nuclear power plant, which was set to close in two years. Meta said it reached the 20-year deal to meet surging electric demand for artificial intelligence.
“As we have embarked on understanding and helping to grow nuclear energy in the U.S., we have heard from across the ecosystem that existing nuclear power plants will not be able to stay online indefinitely without partners and investments that help extend existing operating licenses and increase generation capacity,” Meta said in a statement.
