|
Senate Republicans have introduced Senate Bill 1527 that would
allow for the expansion of nuclear power beyond small modular
reactors. The measure removes provisions prohibiting the
construction of new nuclear power reactors with a nameplate
capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity.
State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said nuclear power could
be a win-win for Illinois residents and businesses.
“Lower energy costs, economic expansion, and workforce stability
will provide meaningful benefits for every household in our
state,” said Bryant.
Illinois is home to six nuclear power plants, the most of any
state.
“However, Illinois has been slow to embrace new nuclear
development, and we need to change that,” said state Sen. Sally
Turner, R-Lincoln. “The demand for electricity is growing at a
historic pace driven by advancements in technology and
industry.”
One measure, Senate Bill 94, would create the Data Center
Construction by Foreign Adversaries Act, which aims to prevent
foreign companies from constructing data centers in Illinois and
putting a strain on the power grid.
“To ensure that data centers owned by foreign adversaries are
not stressing our already fragile energy grid,” state Sen. Sue
Rezin, R-Morris, said was the purpose of the measure.
David Kraft, with the Chicago-based Nuclear Energy Information
Service, said there is a misguided approach to energy, and what
is needed is not more nuclear reactors or even more renewable
energy.
“What needs to take place really fast is improving the
transmission grid and getting access to the projects that are
already in the pipeline that can’t get on the grid,” said Kraft.
Kraft notes that the federal government still does not have a
permanent solution for the nuclear waste piling up across the
country.
|
|
