The Illinois Senate has voted to lift a three-decade-old ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants in the state.
On Thursday, following a bipartisan roll call, the Senate passed State Senator Sue Rezin’s legislation, Senate Bill 76, which would end the state’s moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants.
Rezin said ending the moratorium would create jobs, lower utility costs, and provide more reliable, clean energy.
“Illinois is just one of twelve states in the entire nation to still have a moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power facilities. In the past few years, other states, including our neighbor Indiana, have recognized just how arbitrary and archaic these types of bans are and moved to remove them,” said Sen. Rezin. “My legislation is a bipartisan, pro-jobs bill that will help ensure that Illinois is able to effectively compete with other states who are beginning to understand the pivotal role nuclear energy can play in relieving growing energy grid reliability and resiliency pressures.”
Senate Bill 76 would eliminate the language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the state. Under the legislation, public utility and energy companies wouldn’t be forced to invest in nuclear energy, but would merely be given the option to invest in new nuclear power construction projects.
These projects could be either traditional nuclear reactors or new small modular reactors (SMRs.) SMRs are the latest and most advanced nuclear energy technology being developed which have the added benefit of being able to be placed in existing infrastructure such as factories or retired coal-fired power plants that are already connected to the electric grid.
Senate Bill 76 passed in the Senate with a 39-13 bipartisan vote, and now moves over to the House for further consideration.
Source: KHQA