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SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Reliable, clean, and affordable electricity is
3vital to Illinois' economic growth, jobs, and the overall
4interests of its citizens; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Illinois' nuclear power plants provide over half
6of the State's total electricity generation and are licensed to
7generate affordable electricity for Illinois families and
8businesses into the future; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Illinois had the twentieth lowest average price of
10electricity across all sectors in 2019, and low-cost energy
11resources give the State a significant advantage for attracting
12and retaining businesses of all kinds and provide reliable
13electricity to Illinois families; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The premature closure of nuclear power plants
15could increase electric prices for families and businesses by
16up to $483,000,000 annually; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Nuclear plants help Illinois avoid 45 million
18metric tons of carbon emissions each year, equivalent to almost
1910 million cars or 70% of current State carbon emissions; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Within Illinois, six nuclear plants comprise

 

 

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1approximately 54% of the State's generation and 29% of its
2generating capacity; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Illinois nuclear plants account for $149 million
4in estimated annual Illinois State tax revenues; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Industry analysts and consultants, academic
6analyses and studies, and market publications have reached
7various conclusions regarding the economic viability of some
8Illinois nuclear power plants; the premature shutdown of one or
9more of these valuable assets will most likely cause economic,
10social, and environmental harm to Illinois families and
11businesses; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Closing even a few nuclear power plants could make
13achieving State and national carbon reduction goals difficult
14or impossible; and
 
15    WHEREAS, It is of the highest importance that the State of
16Illinois preserve its existing clean energy resources as a
17means of achieving its clean energy goals, keeping energy costs
18stable and reliable, and preserving jobs; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge PJM
21Interconnection, LLC to expeditiously adopt market rules and

 

 

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1policies that will ensure the continued operation of the
2existing fleet of nuclear power plants or the abatement of the
3equivalent amount of emissions avoided by use of nuclear energy
4generation in Illinois; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That we urge PJM Interconnection, LLC to prepare
6a report showing how the premature closure of the Braidwood,
7Byron, Dresden, and Lasalle nuclear power plants in Illinois
8will affect reliability and capacity for the Midwest region and
9the impact on wholesale electric rates; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That we urge the findings of this report to
11include potential market-based options, including a Fixed
12Resource Requirement that prioritizes carbon-free generators,
13that could ensure that the premature closure of these nuclear
14power plants does not occur and that the dire consequences to
15the economy, jobs, and the environment would be averted; and be
16it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That we urge PJM Interconnection, LLC to postpone
18the next capacity auction until Illinois has an opportunity to
19develop and implement a solution that will enable the State to
20meet its clean energy goals; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That we urge the findings from those reports to
22be presented to the General Assembly and the Governor before

 

 

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1September 1, 2020 for consideration and appropriate action; and
2be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
4delivered to Governor J.B. Prizker and Manu Asthana, President
5and Chief Executive Officer of PJM Interconnection, LLC.