(WJBC file photo)
By Greg Halbleib
CLINTON – Advocates of keeping the Clinton nuclear power plant open say the facility reduces the carbon footprint of electric generation and keeps the local economy afloat.
Clinton City Administrator Tim Followell was one of several local and state representatives at a forum in Chicago yesterday designed to educate lawmakers about the benefits of the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear plants. Followell told WJBC’s Terry James that cheap natural gas reduced the price of electricity, which harmed the profitability of the Clinton plant.
Followell also said power plants are required to reduce their carbon footprint in coming years, and reliance on natural gas and coal to generate power only increases it. He said nuclear power reduces the carbon footprint and drives the local economy.
“They’re important to our lifestyle, our health and all area businesses,” Followell said. “The state of Illinois should keep the economics of electric prices in check the best we can.”
Followell said about 700 people are employed at the Clinton plant with most of those living outside of DeWitt County. He pointed out another recent plant closure which has hurt the local economy.
“Not only in the Bloomington area and DeWitt County with Mitsubishi’s impact of losing those jobs, this one will be equally as important,” Followell said. “These will be the high-paying jobs you will not replicate.”
Followell says the Clinton plant accounts for about half of the tax base for Clinton schools, and losing that funding would require drastic program cuts and class size increases.
