By Will Stevenson/Illinois Radio Network
CLINTON – Officials with two groups say they’re pleased that energy company Exelon is holding off for at least a year on whether to close the Clinton nuclear power plant.The Illinois Manufacturers Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association both say nuclear power is cost-effective, even though Exelon says the Clinton plant is losing money.
IRMA CEO Rob Karr said energy is already expensive enough for the business community.
“Electricity is a major cost factor — it’s often number two — in a retail operation,” Karr said. There’s some relief that the reliability and the supply that the nuclear power plant brings will still be there.”
Exelon also has delayed decisions on closing plants in Byron and in the Quad Cities. Karr and the IMA both said now is the time for lawmakers to start thinking about a comprehensive energy policy that also meets new federal environmental guidelines.
“It gives the General Assembly and the Governor a little more time to consider energy policy,” Mark Denzler, Illinois Manufacturers Association vice president said. “What you’re going to find is there are several major energy proposals in Springfield that have to be paired together with some of the federal rules changes that are coming.”
Denzler said he believes lawmakers can have a major energy debate, regardless of what the state budget situation is. He says the year will also allow for the current energy auction system may need to be altered, given that energy in Illinois is deregulated, while it isn’t in other states.
