Illinois’ Nuclear Plants Near 41 Years of Providing Safe, Reliable, Carbon-Free Power
The four nuclear plants serving Chicago and northern Illinois have achieved over 15,000 consecutive days of operation, supplying more than two-thirds of the state's carbon-free energy. Byron Station recently marked 5,000 days online, while Dresden reached 4,260 days, contributing to the plants' leading operational records. However, low power prices may lead to the closure of the Byron and Dresden plants, risking a cumulative increase of over 100 million metric tons of carbon emissions in the next decade. These plants support 28,000 jobs and generate $3.5 billion for the Illinois economy.
- Nuclear plants have achieved over 15,000 consecutive days of operation.
- Byron and Dresden plants among industry leaders for continuous operation.
- The plants provide 90% of Illinois' clean energy and support 28,000 jobs.
- Byron and Dresden plants face closure due to low power prices.
- Closure could increase carbon emissions by over 100 million metric tons in the next decade.
At a time when the nation’s energy grid is increasingly challenged by extreme heat and storms, the four nuclear plants serving Chicago and northern Illinois are approaching a combined 41 years, or 15,000 consecutive days, of continuous service. The Dresden, Byron, Braidwood and LaSalle nuclear plants located outside the Chicago region provide more than two-thirds of the state’s carbon-free energy and are the only clean-energy resources that can operate around-the-clock, 365 days a year.
Byron reached 5,000 consecutive days online last week, while Dresden reached 4,260 consecutive days during the same period. Braidwood Station (3,975 days) and LaSalle Station (1,603 days) add to the streak, making the Illinois plants among the leaders in the industry for continuous operation.
“The workers at our plants are the best in the industry and operate our nuclear units at world class levels of safety and reliability, ensuring we remain online when our communities need our electricity the most,” said Dave Rhoades, Exelon Generation Chief Nuclear Officer. “Powering Illinois with clean energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a hallmark of our zero-carbon nuclear fleet.”
Including Exelon Generation’s Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear stations, Illinois has six nuclear sites that provide 90 percent of the state’s clean energy and serve as an essential complement to the state’s other clean energy resources. The plants run close to 100 percent of the time in summer and winter when electricity use is high, while solar averages 20 percent and wind averages 30 percent.
The importance of reliable, carbon-free energy has been accentuated by the prevalence of extreme weather brought on by climate change, forcing policymakers to confront difficult decisions about the future of clean energy in Illinois and across the nation. Low power prices and market rules that give fossil-fuel power plants an unfair advantage forced Exelon Generation to announce last year that it will close the Byron Generating Station in Ogle County in September and the Dresden Generating Station in Grundy County in November. The Braidwood and LaSalle nuclear plants also are at high risk of premature retirement in the near term.
With just weeks to go before the first of the plants permanently closes, policymakers continue working on legislation that would preserve the plants as part of a comprehensive plan to maintain and grow clean-energy jobs, keep energy bills affordable and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The four Chicago-area plants support 28,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute
Losing Byron and Dresden will result in a cumulative increase in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 100 million metric tons over the next decade, even after taking into account the increase in renewables that would occur under the proposed energy legislation. This is more than the entire volume of carbon dioxide emissions otherwise projected for northern Illinois over the same period. These additional emissions would be caused by the regional grid operator dispatching fossil generation to make up for the lost zero-carbon energy coming from Dresden and Byron.
“Illinois works best when its residents have jobs and their places of employment have the affordable electricity they need to work each day,” said Sarah Downs, executive director of the Byron Area Chamber of Commerce. “Byron Station hitting 5,000 consecutive days of power production is incredible. These nuclear plants provide everything residents have asked for: jobs, reliable and environmentally friendly power generation and a solid tax base for local communities. Other states wish they had this much baseload, carbon-free energy to power their businesses and homes.”
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Exelon Generation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), is the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy, powering more than 20 million homes and businesses through a diverse generation fleet with more than 31,000 megawatts of capacity. Exelon Generation operates the largest U.S. fleet of zero-carbon nuclear plants with more than 18,700 megawatts from 21 reactors at 12 facilities in Illinois, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania. It also operates a diverse mix of wind, solar, landfill gas, hydroelectric, natural gas and oil facilities in 19 states with more than 12,300 megawatts. Exelon Generation sets the standard for world-class power plant operations that produce clean, safe, reliable electricity, and is an active partner and economic engine in the communities it serves by providing jobs, charitable contributions and tax payments that help towns and regions grow. Follow Exelon Generation on Twitter @ExelonGen, view the Exelon Generation YouTube channel or visit exeloncorp.com. |
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