Reports: Illinois could help boost struggling nuclear plants

CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois could help prevent Exelon Corp. from closing nuclear plants by adopting policies that penalize competitors that emit carbon dioxide, including coal-fired power plants, according to a report released Wednesday by several state agencies.

House Speaker Michael Madigan last year directed the Commerce Commission and several other agencies to study ways to boost the financially struggling nuclear industry, after Exelon said it might have to close at least three of its six Illinois plants.

The report suggests the state could favor Exelon because its nuclear plants generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gases, the Chicago Tribune reported (http://trib.in/1yBHH7U ).

Exelon has told lawmakers it wants to be included in a "clean portfolio standard" under which nuclear, solar and wind power producers are rewarded for providing energy to the state. Otherwise, the company could push for a price on carbon that would make its nuclear plants more competitive.

The nuclear industry, which has been struggling with expensive, aging plants and low electricity prices, also sees opportunity in a sweeping Obama administration proposal to curb emissions from the nation's power plants by 30 percent by 2030. States must submit a plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outlining how they will meet their goals.

The coal industry has warned that the new rules could force power plants to close, while environmentalists hope renewable energy will get a boost.

Just under half of Illinois' electricity comes from nuclear plants, with the rest from coal, natural gas and renewable energy.

An Exelon spokesman said the company would review the report and issue a statement later.

But Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, said the report shows that Exelon's plants can be retired without hurting electric reliability, and that more jobs would be created by concentrating on renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.

"We shouldn't bail out Exelon's old, uncompetitive nuclear plants," he said.

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com