Nuclear plants produce over half of Illinois electricity, almost faced retirement

beaver nuclear plant

subscribe

CHICAGO -

Nuclear plants have produced over half of Illinois electricity generation since 2010, but the states two largest plants would have been retired if the state had not created a zero emission credit (ZEC) mechanism to support the facilities.

The two plants, Quad Cities and Clinton, collectively delivered more than 12 percent of the states electricity generation over the past several years. In May 2016, however, Exelon, the owner of the plants, announced that they had together lost over $800 million dollars over the previous six years and revealed plans to retire them in 2017 and 2018.

In December 2016, Illinois passed the Future Energy Jobs Bill, which established a zero emission credit (ZEC) mechanism

to support the plants financially. Exelon then cancelled its plans to retire the two facilities.

The ZEC is a tradable credit that represents the environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour of energy produced from the states nuclear plants. Its price is based on a number of factors that include wholesale electricity market prices, generation costs, state average market prices, and estimated costs of the long-term effects of carbon dioxide emissions.

The bill is set to take effect in June, but faces multiple court challenges as some utilities have expressed concerns that the ZEC violates the commerce clause and affects federal authority to regulate wholesale energy prices.

Illinois ranks first in the United States for both generating capacity and net electricity generation from nuclear power and accounts for approximately one-eighth of the nuclear power generation in the nation.

Related News

Electrification Of Vehicles Prompts BC Hydro's First Call For Power In 15 Years

VANCOUVER - The Government of British Columbia (the Government or Province) has announced that BC Hydro would be moving forward with a call for new sources of 100 percent clean, renewable emission-free electricity, notably including wind and solar. The call, expected to launch in spring 2024, is BC Hydro's first call for power in 15 years and will seek power from larger scale projects.

Over the past decade, British Columbia has experienced a growing economy and population as well as a move by the housing, business and transportation sectors towards electrification. As the Government highlighted in their recent announcement, the…

READ MORE
berlin powerlines

Nine EU countries oppose electricity market reforms as fix for energy price spike

READ MORE

rooftop-solar-grids

Rooftop Solar Grids

READ MORE

frisco solar power

Flowing with current, Frisco, Colorado wants 100% clean electricity

READ MORE

uk-renewable-energy-auction-boost-for-wind-and-tidal-power

UK Renewable Energy Auction: Boost for Wind and Tidal Power

READ MORE