Nuclear power plants on agenda as Illinois veto session begins Tuesday - WGEM

Nuclear power plants on agenda as Illinois veto session begins Tuesday

SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) - Illinois state lawmakers return to the capitol Tuesday as the 2023 veto session begins. Among the items on the agenda is a plan to increase energy production in the state.

One of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s most notable vetoes of 2023 was a bill that would have lifted the moratorium on building new nuclear power plants in the state and allowed for the construction of small modular nuclear reactors. He vetoed it on Aug. 11 citing a lack of regulatory protections and “vague definitions” that he fears could lead to the construction of large-scale reactors.

State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, voted against the bill.

“We need to ensure that should we move forward, we’re doing so in a way that it can be regulated appropriately,” Villivalam said.

State Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, supported the bipartisan bill.

She said with coal plants set to be shut down by 2045, Illinois needs another energy besides renewables.

“I believe in protecting our environment, but you have to have a happy balance,” Tracy said. “We’re high energy users and you have to have a reliable source to meet the demand.”

“The most important thing for all of us, regardless of our politics, is that we have sustainable and affordable energy, and we’re not going to be able to do that unless we have this in place,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna.

The bill’s original sponsor, Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, has filed a new bill addressing Pritzker’s concerns.

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