State Senators tour nuclear power plant in Clinton

Posted on February 19, 2021
State Senators Michael Hastings and Doris Turner toured Exelon’s plant at Clinton. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Dave Dahl

CLINTON – Senators are studying Illinois nuclear plants as energy policy could be in for a rewrite in Illinois. Coming off a tour of Exelon’s plant at Clinton Thursday, State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) said it’s about more than just energy.

“For four plants to close down would have approximately a $6 billion economic impact throughout the state of Illinois,” he said. “It would also cause 15,000 people – and more – to lose their jobs.”

But State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) is not on board with one of the state’s major goals.

“I don’t think we will be going 100 percent renewable,” Turner said. “I think that we will always have to have a diverse energy package.”

Turner has been on the Springfield City Council, which oversees a city-owned, coal-fired utility.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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