Business News

SHAW MEDIA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, asked the Biden administration to use executive authority to keep the Byron and Dresden nuclear power stations operating.

Kinzinger, in a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, asked that emergency powers be used until the legislative process in Illinois or Washington offers a solution.

Kinzinger is a member of the U.S. House energy and commerce committee. He and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, a Pennsylvania Democrat, introduced legislation in early August to establish a financial credit program for certain civil nuclear power plants.

The issue is seen by power companies as an uneven playing field for different types of power generation; the result is that nuclear power operates at a financial loss.

Exelon Generation, which operates Byron, announced last year that it intends to retire that plant in September. Dresden, which is in Morris, is slated to close in November. The Byron plant is licensed to operate for another 20 years, Dresden for 10.

“I am gravely concerned about both the nationwide trend of a thinning nuclear fleet as well the parochial interests involved with the decommissioning of Byron and Dresden stations, the result of which will be disastrous for individuals and municipalities in my district,” Kinzinger wrote in a letter to the president.

Kinzinger wrote that the Defense Production Act and the Federal Power Act both offer routes the president could take to keep the stations open for reasons of national defense and public interest

Keeping the plants operating is i m p o r t a n t i n t h e f a c e o f e x t r e me weather, the COVID-19 pandemic, security of power in the face of cyberattacks and for meeting the administration’s own policy objectives in the realm of climate change.

“This, of course, is a serious probl e m a n d o n e t h a t r e q u i r e s s w i f t action,” Kinzinger said in a release announcing his appeal. “My constituents and the communities I serve are desperately asking me for help, so I’m pulling out all the stops.”

Earleen Hinton file photo – ehinton@shawmedia.com The Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has created signs showing the union's support of keeping the Exelon's Byron Generating Station open. Signs like this one are posted across the region.

Alex T. Paschal file photo – apaschal@shawmedia.com U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger speaks to the press in this undated file photo. On Tuesday, Kinzinger sent a request to President Joe Biden on the matter of the imminent closure of the Byron and Dresden nuclear plants.

Exelon: Plants operated at f ull power dur ing hot test months

As the world recorded its hottest month on record in July, Exelon Generation’s Illinois nuclear plants again operated at full power levels, producing enough carbon-free electricity to keep air conditioners running and more than 11 million homes and businesses cool, Exelon officials said in an Aug. 24 news release.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called July the hottest month since it began keeping records 142 years ago. Several hot weather alerts calling for maximum electricity generation in Illinois were issued by grid operators PJM and MISO during that time, and Exelon’s Illinois nuclear fleet answered the call, delivering 99% reliability in June and 99.9% in July.

“Our nuclear facilities are among the most reliable power plants in the country, and we know how important it is for them to be available during extremely hot weather conditions like we’ve experienced recently across Illinois,” said Shane Marik, senior vice president for Midwest operations at Exelon Generation. “I thank our hardworking nuclear employees for ensuring our fleet continues delivering carbon-free energy to Illinois residents, keeping our air clean and protecting customers from extreme heat.”

Exelon’s Illinois nuclear fleet regularly provides near-perfect reliability, one of many indicators that industry experts use to rate efficiency and performance, according to the release. During the hottest months of 2019 and 2020, Illinois nuclear reactors also operated 98.9% and 99.2% of the time respectively.

“During the hottest summer days and coldest winter nights, Exelon Generation’s nuclear fleet has been critical to meeting peak electricity demand in Illinois. Having Illinois’ nuclear fleet available during times of peak demand means the system doe not need to rely as much on fossil plants when the temperature spikes, avoiding harmful air pollution that disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income communities,” the release states.

Illinois is home to six nuclear power plants. Exelon’s Illinois nuclear fleet produces more than 50% of the state’s electricity and includes Braidwood Generating Station in Will County; Byron Generating Station in Ogle County; Clinton Power Station in DeWitt County; Dresden Generating Station in Grundy County; La Salle County Generating Station; and Quad Cities Generating in Rock Island County.

Exelon Generation is a subsidiary of Exelon Corp. and is the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy, powering more than 20 million homes and businesses through a diverse generation fleet with about 30,000 megawatts of capacity.

Earleen Hinton file photo – ehinton@shawmedia.com Exelon’s Byron Generating Station is located on German Church Road between Oregon and Byron.

OREGON

Chamber announces citizens, volunteer of the year

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

OREGON – Oregon is a big deal for Tom and Jan Champley.

“Oregon’s a big part of our lives,” Tom Champley said Monday. “We raised our three kids here. Seven of our nine grandkids live in Oregon – although three of them are off to college.”

The couple has called the city home for 50 years, Jan Champley said.

“Now that we’re both retried, we’re finally able to give back a little more than when we were working full time,” she said.

The Champleys were recognized for all they do at the annual Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce awards dinner, where they were named Citizens of the Year. The event took place Aug. 19 at Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center in Oregon.

Chamber Board of Director members Rob Gieraltowski and Jeff Bold presented the award.

“This husband and wife team have spent the last 50 years serving out community on multiple boards, volunteering for organizations and continuing to give back to our community in many ways,” Gieraltowski said prior to the winners being announced.

Bold continued, noting that the winners volunteer with village of Progress, the Oregon Lions Club, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center and Northern Illinois Food Bank and also serve Thanksgiving meals to Serenity Hospice & Home families.

Receiving the award was “very humbling,” Jan Champley said.

“It was an extreme honor and totally unexpected on my part,” she said.

Tom Champley agreed. Their daughter had told them their son-in-law was getting an award, so that’s why they attended the dinner, he said.

“We were expecting him to get an award, and we did instead,” Tom Champley said.

The Champleys said they appreciate the work the Chamber of Commerce has done over the past few years for new businesses and downtown Oregon.

“Downtown Oregon seems to be really thriving right now, and we’re very proud of that and what the Chamber has done,” Tom Champley said.

The Volunteer of the Year award went to Mary Coulter for her work with the Oregon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8739.

“I was truly speechless,” Coulter said Tuesday. “I was surprised. I just really didn’t expect it at all.

“With me being relatively new to the area and not knowing very many people, it is quite an honor,” she said. “Words just don’t come.”

She and her husband, Bob Coulter, have been in the area about five years.

Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Vice President Michelle Carreno and board member Rebecca Hazzard presented the Volunteer of the Year award.

Carreno read one of the nominations. It said: “Before and during the pandemic, the Oregon VFW was having

Photos by Alexa Zoellner – azoellner@shawmedia.com ABOVE: Pastor Megan Smick speaks after accepting the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce’s Civic Leadership Award on behalf of Oregon United Methodist Church. The Chamber’s annual dinner took place Aug. 19 at Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center in Oregon. LEFT: Dr. Tom Champley (right) and Jan Champley head back to their seats after accepting the Citizens of the Year award.

Rebecca Hazzard accepts the Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year award on behalf of RE/MAX of Rock Valley.