Exelon to fill 650 vacant jobs, invest $300 million in wake of Illinois clean energy bill
Prompted by passage of clean energy legislation in Illinois that preserved Exelon Generation’s nuclear plants, the company announced this week that it will work to fill 650 vacant positions and invest more than $300 million into capital projects at Byron and Dresden stations over the next five years.
The clean energy package effectively overhauled Illinois’ overarching energy policy, pivoting it further from fossil fuels and shifting it towards other sources, such as wind, solar and nuclear. Byron nuclear station began refueling its Unit 1 once the legislation went into effect, and Exelon intends to invest more than $140 million into that plant alone over the coming years. Support for nuclear plants like this account for less than 20 percent of the cost of the overall legislation, Exelon noted, but the return on investment could be significant.
“With this landmark legislation in place, we are moving quickly to restaff and refuel all of our nuclear plants for 24/7 operation, producing carbon-free, baseload electricity for more than 10 million homes and businesses,” Dave Rhoades, Exelon Generation’s chief nuclear officer, said. “These plants are not only important for the clean energy they produce, but they are massive economic engines for their local communities, contributing more than $1.6 billion to Illinois’ GDP each year.”
Indeed, two-thirds of the state’s cleaner energy options currently flow from nuclear power. Exelon had estimated that closure of its plants would result in a 70 percent rise in emissions, slash thousands of jobs and spike annual energy prices along the way.
With new support in hand, Exelon intends to overhaul Byron station’s main generator, replace transformers and other parts, as well as upgrade its fiber optic control system. At Dresden, another $170 million is slated for capital projects that include upgrades to six feedwater heat exchange vessels, main generator revisions and replacements or updates to electrical components, piping and more. Work will occur during refueling outages, with the next one slated for November.
“Exelon refueling outages put thousands of people to work in Illinois, providing jobs to skilled local and regional union and tradespeople,” Terry McGoldrick, president and business manager of IBEW Local 15, said. “Keeping these plants open was the right decision, and I’m pleased the General Assembly made this investment in the future of our workforce, our communities and our nuclear plants.”
Other nuclear plants benefiting from the state’s recent changes include: Braidwood Generating Station, Clinton Power Station, LaSalle County Generating Station and Quad Cities Generating Station.
