Illinois energy bill becomes law

Thursday, 8 December 2016

Illinois governor Bruce Rauner yesterday signed energy legislation that will ensure the continued operation of the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear power plants.

Governor Rauner celebrates signing the Future Energy Jobs bill at Clinton High School (Image: Bruce Rauner)

Senate Bill 2814, the Future Energy Jobs bill, was passed by the state legislature on 1 December, the final day of both houses' 2016 veto sessions. The bill will see Illinois expand clean energy production while protecting jobs and maintaining competitive electricity rates, with caps and protections to limit the impact on consumers and businesses.

It recognises the contribution of nuclear power generation to the state's zero-carbon emission generation and ensures that the Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear power plants can remain open. Without the legislation, both plants had faced closure.

Exelon said it plans to operate the Clinton and Quad Cities plants for at least another ten years as a result of the bill. "This historic legislation will protect the state's primary source of clean energy while saving thousands of good jobs at our plants and providing millions of dollars in low-income assistance, as well as job training in communities that need it most," CEO Chris Crane said.

Rauner thanked those who had negotiated "in good faith" to make the bill a reality. "This bill ensures we don't gamble with thousands of good paying jobs and gamble with our energy diversity," he said.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News