Exelon: Cordova work means 1,800 temporary jobs

CORDOVA -- Company officials say there will be some 1,800 temporary jobs for union workers when Exelon begins a $300 million turbine-replacement project at the Quad Cities Nuclear Generating Station north of Cordova this month.

Exelon communications manager Bill Stoermer says $150 million will be spent this year replacing three low-pressure turbines on unit 2, and the other $150 million will be spent next year replacing the three low-pressure turbines on unit 1. The units' high-pressure turbines will not be replaced.

Stoermer says work on unit 2 will begin this month and be completed in April.

He says 2,100 workers will be brought in to do the work -- about 300 who specialize in power plant work, while the rest will be local millwrights, pipefitters and other union employees.