By Terry James
BLOOMINGTON – It may be a long shot, but Illinois lawmakers could have a way to keep the Clinton Nuclear power plant open.
A New York Commission has declared nuclear power to be clean energy similar to wind and solar power. This means Illinois Legislators cold take action to give tax breaks to owner Exelon.
Republican State Representative Tom Bennett tells WJBC’s Terry James he hopes the legislature can work out a bill that could keep the plant from closing in 2017.
He also hopes the legislature can come up with a long term budget to take effect when the band aid budget expires at the end of the year.
“We’ve got more work to do, we’ve got some serious work to do and at the same time people are waiting,” said Bennett. “Social Services are being cut, soil and water conservation, there’s a number of issues around the board that are not being met and we’ve got to find ways to do these.”
Bennett says there may be some work going on behind the scenes so that lawmakers are ready when they reconvene in November.
Terry James can be reached at terry@wjbc.com.
