Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has wielded his veto power to reject a bill on Friday that aimed to usher in the construction of new nuclear reactors in the state, marking the first potential expansion of such facilities in over three decades.
Advocates of the measure saw it as a significant stride towards addressing climate change, while detractors raised apprehensions about its perceived hazards and financial implications.
“The bill is vetoed because the vague definitions in the bill, including the overly broad definition of advanced reactors, will open the door to the proliferation of large-scale nuclear reactors that are so costly to build that they will cause exorbitant ratepayer-funded bailouts,” Pritzker’s office said. “Additionally, it provides no regulatory protections or updates to address the health and safety of Illinois residents who would live and work around these new reactors.”
Sue Rezin, a Republican from Morris who sponsored the bill in the Senate, affirmed that she has already initiated the process to reintroduce the legislation during the legislature’s fall veto session slated for late October and early November.
Illinois currently derives a significantly larger proportion of its electricity from nuclear power than most states, reaching 54% in 2019. This underscores the state’s reliance on nuclear energy to fulfill its climate objectives, especially the ambitious target of achieving 100% clean energy by 2050.
As part of an extensive climate legislation package passed in 2021, the state had committed to allocating up to $694 million over five years to sustain operation of a handful of existing nuclear plants out of the current six.
Proponents of the bill assert that nuclear power stands as the most environmentally friendly and reliable alternative during the transition away from coal and natural gas. Climate advocates generally concur that advancements in battery technology are essential before intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind can seamlessly plug energy gaps.
Alan Medsker, Illinois director for the Campaign for a Green Nuclear Deal, expressed disappointment, stating, “With a supermajority in both chambers supporting [Senate Bill 76], we are disappointed, to say the least, that Gov. Pritzker has chosen to block this very popular bill.”
The bill was endorsed by the Illinois Senate in March with a vote of 39-13, and later passed in the House with an 84-22-3 vote in May.
“Devil’s in the details”
In April, Pritzker acknowledged his overall endorsement of the idea to lift the prohibition on nuclear construction, yet he refrained from confirming his intention to approve the specific provision outlined in SB76.
Pritzker expressed his support for the construction of small modular nuclear reactors, compact energy generators with potential applications in individual factories or other sectors.
He emphasized that this stance wouldn’t necessarily conflict with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act he endorsed in 2021, which some environmentalists believe contradicts nuclear expansion due to waste risks.
“These are smaller, less prone to an accident, more likely for us to be able to maintain them for a long period of time, that’s something that’s worthy of consideration,” Pritzker said. “Now the devil’s in the details and we want to make sure that we’re not just opening this up to nuclear everywhere or any type of nuclear.”
While SB76 currently encompasses all forms of nuclear construction, including large-scale ventures, Pritzker indicated back then, “I don’t know where that bill will go this session, but I’m not opposed to it as if I’m, you know, just dead set against any nuclear. I just want, if we’re going to consider it, it’s got to be safe.”
“Either new nuclear or blackouts”
Medsker emphasized that the delay in passing the bill hampers necessary discussions with nuclear developers and denies communities the opportunity to determine the suitability of nuclear power for their needs.
“Our electrical grid in Illinois is reliable and robust, but that is not guaranteed to remain the case if we replace large amounts of reliable fossil fuel generation with weather-dependent ones that come and go, predictably or unpredictably,” Medsker warned. “Like most large infrastructure, nuclear takes a long time to build, so we need to get started. Because if we shut off our fossil plants, we then will be faced with the choice of either new nuclear or blackouts.”
Despite their capacity to provide emissions-free energy, nuclear plants demand more time and financial investment to establish compared to wind or solar farms. Notably, the Vogtle plant in Georgia, the first to be constructed in the U.S. in three decades, has experienced significant delays and exceeded its budget for its two new units.
Last week, the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter and the Illinois Environmental Council, prominent environmental advocacy groups in the state, jointly penned a letter to Governor Pritzker, urging him to veto the bill. The letter outlined concerns about waste disposal and costs.
Jack Darin, Director of Sierra Club Illinois, commended the veto, remarking, “SB76 would have opened the door to increased risk, negative environmental impacts, and higher costs for consumers while jeopardizing our progress toward Illinois’ clean energy future. We applaud Gov. Pritzker for vetoing the bill and ensuring that Illinois follows the road map laid out in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act toward that vision for our future.”
Critics also emphasized the need for more comprehensive safety regulations before the repeal of the 1987 moratorium.
Pritzker’s move was also applauded by Jen Walling, Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council, who noted that the state leader “acted today to protect Illinois communities from dangerous regulatory gaps in SB76.”
“Rather than abandon all safeguards, Gov. Pritzker recognized that such substantial risks merit the highest protective guardrails our state can offer,” Walling said in a statement.
Currently, twelve states have restrictions on new nuclear power facility construction, down from sixteen as several states repealed long-standing bans in recent years, including Wisconsin, Indiana, and Kentucky.
Information for this story was found via Daily Herald, Capitol News Illinois, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
