Man dies in workplace accident at Clinton nuclear power plant

CLINTON, IL (25News Now) — A man was killed on Friday while working on an electrical transformer at the Clinton Clean Energy Center in DeWitt County.

Deputy Coroner David Allhands told 25News the man, believed to be in his late 20s, was electrocuted and pronounced dead at the scene.

Plant owner Constellation Energy Corporation released a statement saying the man was employed by a contractor. The incident happened about 2 p.m.

“We stand ready to support any of our employees and contractors affected by this tragic event,” the company said.

The deputy coroner said an autopsy will be performed on the man’s body. His name will be released after family members are notified.

Following regulatory protocols, Constellation said an Unusual Event was declared at 2:02 p.m. for the loss of offsite power. The company said an Unusual Event is the lowest of four emergency classifications established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

In June of this year, Constellation and Facebook’s parent company Meta announced a deal to expand the nuclear plant’s output by 30 megawatts to meet surging electrical demand for artificial intelligence and other computing needs.

The companies said their agreement would add 20 years to the nuclear plant’s life, preserve 1,100 local jobs, and bring in $13.5 million in tax revenue.

The Clinton facility was scheduled for premature closure in 2017 after years of financial losses. However, the state government kept the plant open by establishing Zero Emission Credits, which allowed the plant to operate through mid-2027.

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