Exelon Moving Forward with Early Retirement of Clinton, Quad Cities Nuclear Plants

A major provider of power in Illinois is planning to move forward with shutting down two plants due to struggles in Springfield.

Exelon announced its plans in a statement today to begin the process of “early retirement” for their Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear plants. They blame a “lack of progress on Illinois energy legislation” for the move. They say lawmakers were unable to pass the Next Generation Energy Plan which is “critical to the state’s environment and economy.”

Despite being 2 of the company’s best-performing generators, they have lost about $800 million over the past 7 years. The early retirements would take effect June 1^st of 2017 for Clinton, and the same date the following year for the Quad Cities Station.

Exelon employs about 1,500 between the two plants, and said the plants support “about 4,200 direct and indirect jobs.”