38th District St. Sen. Sue Rezin wants to end the state’s temporary prohibition of building nuclear reactors. She introduced a bill in January that would do just that. She says Small Modular Nuclear Reactors could help cities, especially in southern Illinois, where there are reliability problems with energy. They would replace coal-fired power plants and be would be tied into the same grid system. She says they do produce less power than a LaSalle station or Dresden Power Plant, however they can be put into areas that have trouble with energy capacity.
She also says the staff at the coal power plant will be able to work at the small nuclear plants because the state’s skilled workforce understands energy. The Small Modular Reactors could generate 300 megawatts, which could power about 45,000 homes. The reactors are also a good answer to rolling brownouts that could happen in the southern part of the state. Her bill was heard today in the Illinois General Assembly’s Electricity and Utilizes Committee. She says she hopes it will make it out of committee even though some environmental groups oppose it.