By Joe Ragusa
CLINTON – Despite its announcement that plants in the Quad Cities and Byron will stay open for at least another year, Exelon says the future of its nuclear power plant in Clinton is still up in the air.
Bill Stoermer, Communications Manager for the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, said pending legislation in the General Assembly could help the plant’s future.
“We remain optimistic that if the budget issues can be resolved in Illinois, that the policy makers will take a look at the issues surrounding the energy challenges and the economic challenges of the plants, and that they can implement a bill that will provide us with the stability we need.”
Exelon proposed charging consumers $300 million more per year for six years during the spring legislative session, but the bill stalled.
Stoermer said several plants are struggling financially, including Clinton, and those plants will be needed to help Illinois meet federal guidelines on carbon emissions.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at joe.ragusa@cumulus.com.
