Mitchell calls for legislative help for Clinton nuclear plant

Posted on April 15, 2016

Clinton Power Station is one of two Illinois power plants Exelon is threatening to close. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

FORSYTH – Exelon officials are stepping up their calls for financial help from Springfield for the energy companies to keep its nuclear plants at Clinton and the Quad Cities open.

State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, has Exelon’s back.

“If you remove nuclear power, you are going to see you electric bills go sky high,” Mitchell said. “In the next six weeks, the Illinois General Assembly must get down to business and pass a bill to make sure Clinton power plant stays in business and thrives.”

Crain’s Chicago Business reports Exelon CEO Chris Crane met with House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) to personally warn of the closure.

The Clinton nuclear plant has about 600 employees. Mitchell said losing them would have the same economic impact as Chicago losing 105,000 jobs.

“If Madigan had to face the loss of over 100,000 jobs, can you imagine that (would) not be on the frontburner of Speaker Madigan’s plate?,” Mitchell said.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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