St. Rep. Tom Demmer takes Exelon’s nuclear power plant closure announcement to mean it’s not certain. He says he’ll work with Gov. Pritzker and other lawmakers to make sure there’s a seat at the table for the Byron power plant on policy matter talks. He vows not to let the good jobs there go without a fight.
St. Sen. Brian Stewart says the state’s leaders must never underestimate the value of the Byron plant and keeping the power plant open shouldn’t be partisan.
St. Rep. David Welter says the Dresden power plant puts $357 million into Grundy County’s economy every year. He says Exelon’s announcement is because Gov. Pritzker and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan haven’t brought up a comprehensive energy policy for a vote.
Cong. Adam Kinzinger also blames Madigan for the closure announcement. He says besides putting people out of work, the closure crushes the efforts toward clean, safe energy.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin blames Pres. Trump and Congressional Republicans for pursuing policies he says aren’t friendly to nuclear power.
St. Sen. Sue Rezin says Dresden provides $24 million in property taxes annually. She also says the state’s clean energy goals are now in jeopardy.