Tony McCombie, Republican candidate for House District 71, recently reiterated her support of the Quad Cities and Clinton nuclear power plants.
Illiniois Senate bill SB1505 Next Generation Energy Plan (NGEP) ensures that the two power plants will remain open. The bill is currently in hearings before the Illinois Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee.
McCombie pointed out that the nuclear power plants provide 12 percent of Illinois' energy, which is more than twice the energy produced by wind and solar producers in the state. In addition, while Illinois hosts 4 percent of the U.S. population, it produces 12 percent of the nation's nuclear energy.
Exelon, the owner of the power plants, had requested a small subsidy to keep the nuclear reactors operating. The amount added to each household's electric bill would have been $0.25. Without that subsidy, Exelon plans to close the power plants.
In addition to keeping the power plants open, NGEP will establish the Zero Carbon Emission Standard. Illinois' nuclear power plants do not generate carbon emissions. The energy bill will also keep more than 4,000 residents working while putting nearly $300 million in state and local taxes back into the Illinois budget.
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