CORDOVA, Illinois — Two Exelon nuclear power plants in the area of in danger of closing their doors for good if a number of energy bills at the state Capitol aren't passed this year - taking jobs and revenue along with them.
The company announced Friday, May 6 in their latest earnings report that the Clinton and Quad Cities plants will shut down over the next two years if the Next Generation Energy Plan doesn't get passed this session. The plan would open $1 billion in funding for energy efficient and solar power program, but the same plan failed last year. The Illinois legislative session is scheduled to end May 31.
Company officials say the locations have lost more than $800 million in the past six years and the premature closures of the facilities would have a significantly negative impact on the surrounding economies. Approximately 4,200 direct and secondary jobs and $1.2 billion in economic activity would be lost, according to the an analysis by the State of Illinois.
About 1,500 people combined are employed at the plants.