By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – He’s not exactly calling their bluff, but State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said he believes Exelon will keep the Clinton power plant open if lawmakers come up with a plan to aid nuclear energy.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Brady on WJBC. 

“I think some people have tried to complication this whole issue and we need to simplify it,” Brady said. “I’m optimistic the fight to keep it open will win.”

Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin what’s complicating the issue are claims that the legislation Exelon was pushing for would be a bailout. Brady said while providing help for unclear energy could lead to higher utility rates in the short term, he says it would have a long-term benefit in the state’s energy portfolio.

“Exelon need to do what it did, and that is lay down the threat,” Brady said. “I think they want to keep it open, but they had to lay this card out because it is real.”

Brady added nuclear energy should be entitled to the same incentives that are afforded wind and solar energy.

He acknowledged lawmakers could have given them more attention sooner had the state not been trying to solve its nearly year-long budget stalemate.

Exelon announced last week it will close its plant in Clinton next June and its Quad Cities plant in 2018.

State Fair

Brady said his proposal to turn over the upkeep of the state fairgrounds in Springfield and Duquoin to a private foundation ran into union opposition.

“Unions didn’t like the fact that legislation waives state procurement requirements with private funds,” Brady said. “It was one of the problems we knew we would have.”

The measure passed an Illinois Senate committee but did not advance any further.

Brady said the some parts of the state fairgrounds have been left to disrepair over the last decade.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].