Illinois Mulls Future of Nuclear Amid Climate Commitments

The Illinois Commerce Commission will hold a policy session on October 1 to explore the current and future role of nuclear energy in fulfilling its commitments under the Paris climate agreement, according to a September 24 press release.

The state became a member of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a 24-state coalition committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Now, state regulators want to discuss what part nuclear will play in the clean energy transition. Nuclear plants can generate large amounts of carbon-free electricity, but issues such as nuclear waste disposal and safety mean that not everyone is convinced they should be part of the solution.

Illinois is in a particularly interesting position to make a decision on the role of nuclear because it has the most nuclear power plants in the United States. About 52 percent of the state’s electricity and 88 percent of its carbon-free electricity comes from nuclear.

States such as Ohio, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, and New Jersey have already implemented clean air programs that support nuclear energy generation facilities.