To meet forthcoming carbon emissions reduction targets, Illinois must
preserve its existing nuclear energy facilities, Exelon Senior Vice
President of Federal Regulatory Affairs and Wholesale Market Policy
Kathleen Barrón said today at a policy session convened by the Illinois
Commerce Commission. The forum was held to solicit expert perspectives
on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule for reducing
carbon emissions from existing power plants, also known as the Clean
Power Plan.
“We are pleased that EPA has recognized the important environmental,
reliability and economic benefits of existing nuclear power plants and
is creating a regulatory incentive that values the many benefits they
provide to Illinois and the businesses and families here,” Barrón said.
Economic pressures facing Illinois’ nuclear energy facilities have put
some of them at risk of early closure. Barrón said that retiring the
three Illinois nuclear plants at greatest risk would set the state back
substantially and jeopardize its ability to meet emissions reduction
targets.
“If the units at risk of closing today -- representing 43 percent of the
state’s nuclear generation -- retire, they cannot be mothballed and
later brought back online,” she said. “Together they represent more than
30 million metric tons of avoided carbon emissions, given that they will
need to be replaced with fossil generation to provide the
around-the-clock electricity needed to serve customers in the state.”
Barrón emphasized that the benefits of existing nuclear energy
facilities in Illinois go beyond preventing carbon emissions to include
the reliable, “always-on” nature of the energy they generate. The
state’s six nuclear power plants generate 48 percent of its electricity
supply – enough to meet the needs of 7 million Illinois residents.
“Our nuclear facilities nationally are available 24/7 to meet customers’
needs,” she said. “While many plants struggle to run during extreme heat
or cold, when their power is needed most – as we saw during the peak of
this past January’s polar vortex -- ours do not.”
Turning her attention to the state’s forthcoming implementation plan for
the EPA rule, Barrón called for a compliance program that values the
carbon-free attribute of nuclear, saying it would be necessary to
safeguarding Illinois’ continued access to reliable, clean power.
“All zero-carbon resources should be treated similarly,” Barrón said,
“and a state like Illinois that has invested in nuclear technology
should be recognized for that clean energy investment.”
About Exelon Corporation
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) is the nation’s leading competitive
energy provider, with 2013 revenues of approximately $24.9 billion.
Headquartered in Chicago, Exelon does business in 48 states, the
District of Columbia and Canada. Exelon is one of the largest
competitive U.S. power generators, with more than 35,000 megawatts of
owned capacity comprising one of the nation’s cleanest and lowest-cost
power generation fleets. The company’s Constellation business unit
provides energy products and services to approximately 100,000 business
and public sector customers and approximately 1 million residential
customers. Exelon’s utilities deliver electricity and natural gas to
more than 7.8 million customers in central Maryland (BGE), northern
Illinois (ComEd) and southeastern Pennsylvania (PECO). Follow Exelon on
Twitter @Exelon.
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