Exelon, which owns the Byron power plant, was set to receive a $700 million subsidy in a failed clean-energy bill. | Facebook
Exelon, which owns the Byron power plant, was set to receive a $700 million subsidy in a failed clean-energy bill. | Facebook
Exelon has threatened to eliminate hundreds of union jobs by shutting down two nuclear power plants in Illinois as early as this fall after state lawmakers failed to pass a clean-energy bill that included money for plants owned by the company.
Exelon, the parent company of ComEd, was set to receive a $700 million subsidy for three additional nuclear power plants under Gov. J.B. Pritzker's 900-page proposal, which was double the amount independent auditors had recommended.
"I stand with the workers at the Byron plant and support continued negotiations on an energy bill to protect these jobs in our region," state Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) wrote in a June 17 Facebook post. "We need to take a balanced approach that ensures affordability and reliability for ratepayers as we position Illinois for a clean-energy future that includes a strong and viable nuclear fleet."
"I stand with the workers at the Byron plant and support continued negotiations on an energy bill to protect these jobs in our region," state Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) wrote on Facebook.
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According to FOX 32, business groups have vocalized that the proposal as-is would trigger a billion-dollar rate increase on electricity. It would also incentivize adding a million more electric vehicles on state streets.
Pritzker has been active in the push to bring more electric cars to Illinois, FOX 32 reported.
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