US lawmaker urges Biden to use emergency powers to save Illinois nuclear plants

WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) – A U.S. representative in Illinois has urged President Joe Biden to consider using federal emergency powers to save two troubled nuclear power plants in his state. its owner is closer to closing the first one next month.

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger asked Biden in a letter sent Monday afternoon to consider using the powers of the Defense Production Act (DPA) or the Federal Power Act (FPA) to keep the plants open until federal or state grant programs can make them economically viable. Copies were sent to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and other senior officials.

Exelon Corp (EXC.O) CEO Christopher Crane said earlier this month that the company plans to shut down nuclear reactors in Byron in September and in Dresden in November, unless a federal or Illinois program come to the rescue. Read more

The DPA, enacted in 1950 during the Korean War, allows the U.S. government to direct private companies to produce certain goods to meet the country’s national security needs.

Kinzinger said under the FPA, Granholm could submit a proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requesting that an emergency be determined and that the plants be required to remain open.

“The decisions you and your administration make on these issues in the coming days will have a substantial impact on the future of U.S. climate and energy policy,” Kinzinger said in the letter.

The United States has 93 nuclear reactors, down from 104 in 2012, as aging plants face rising safety costs and competition from electricity generated from abundant natural gas and wind power. and solar. However, they are the main source of emission-free energy generation in the country.

The White House, the Department of Energy, and Exelon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Illinois has been debating a clean energy package that includes subsidies to nuclear power. The bill has been bogged down by requirements to shut down coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants, but the state legislature is expected to consider a thinner version of the bill on Aug. 31.

White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy has said existing nuclear power plants in the United States in many areas will be “absolutely essential” to achieving Biden’s goal of freeing grid emissions by 2035. L The administration has supported the use of subsidies to taxpayers to prevent closure and such a measure is in its infrastructure legislation.

Report by Timothy Gardner and Scott Disavino in New York; Edited by Dan Grebler

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