(The Center Square) – As Illinois Republicans continue to make a push to expand nuclear power in the state, the governor appears to be on board.
Illinois generates more electricity from nuclear power than any other state in the country, with 11 working reactors at six locations.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation in 2023 that lifted a decades-long moratorium on new nuclear power reactors, but was aimed at exploring the use of small modular reactors, or SMRs.
One measure in Springfield would allow for the expansion of nuclear power beyond small modular reactors. The measure would remove provisions prohibiting the construction of new nuclear power reactors with a nameplate capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity.
“We’re looking forward to having a bill that comes to my desk that will allow us to expand the options for nuclear in the state of Illinois but it has to be done in the right way,” said Pritzker.
While signing a trade agreement with Illinois, United Kingdom Consul General Richard Hyde said his country could become involved with an expansion of nuclear power.
“Illinois has adopted a standard and definition of small modular reactors, which we think is a little old fashioned,” said Hyde. “We would love to open up like states around you and let Rolls Royce come and bring their technology into Illinois and drive forward small modular reactors.”
Rolls Royce is developing SMRs in Great Britain. A reactor in Canada is the only example under construction in the Western Hemisphere.
David Kraft is with the Chicago-based Nuclear Energy Information Service. He said there are other safe energy sources that will be pushed aside if more nuclear power comes online.
“We have solutions that don’t produce radioactive waste or any kind of radioactive hazard waiting in line to be connected, and we do know if more nuclear gets built, fewer of those projects will be connected,” said Kraft.
