Exelon is pushing for legislation in Illinois to help keep its nuclear power plant open in the Quad Cities. Today, executives from Exelon and some state representatives discussed what it will take to keep three nuclear plants in Illinois open, including the Quad Cities plant in Cordova.
Bill Stoermer, from Exelon, says the generating stations have lost 350-million-dollars in the past 5 years. And if that trend continues, Exelon will have to close the Cordova plant, which employs about 800 people.
Exelon has gained support from some state government officials, in pushing for a bill to give nuclear plants in Illinois low-carbon or carbon-free credits. It would raise residential customers' energy bills by about $2 a month to support nuclear plants in the state. And, help the nuclear plant compete with solar and wind energy.
Stoermer says the Quad Cities Generating Station is funded through 2017. And, Exelon will go to auction this Friday, to sell power through 2019. He says the next three auctions, through early September, will determine if the plant can remain open.
Illinois State Representative Pat Verschoore says Exelon is Rock Island County's largest property tax payer in the Quad Cities, generating about 8-million-dollars each year. And if the plant closes, the loss of property taxes will hurt local schools, and raise taxes elsewhere.
The Byron Generating Station in Ogle County and the Clinton Power Station are also under threat of closure.