Chambana Sun

Following a month-long scheduled outage, Exelon Generation’s Clinton Power Station was refuelled and back to full power by June 6, according to a press release, which also said Clinton businesses enjoyed extra revenue from the 1,500 additional workers who took part in the project.

“The work done over the past several weeks will help us continue to provide clean, safe, reliable power to Central Illinois consumers for years to come,” Ted Stoner, vice president of the Clinton Station site, said, according to the release. "Our employees, families and neighbors are very thankful to Illinois legislative leaders for enacting this legislation that recognizes the significant environmental and economic benefits of nuclear power to our state.”

Exelon operates six high-performing nuclear facilities in the state, which account for 4,200 jobs, $1.2 billion in annual economic activity and 90 percent of the state’s carbon-free power. The Clinton station had been at risk of shutdown this year but now is set to continue operations for another decade following passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA).

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the Future Energy Jobs of America Act into law in December 2016.

“Without the FEJA, Clinton’s environmental and economic benefits would have disappeared forever,” Marian Brisard, executive director of the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, said, according to the release. “We are grateful the power plant is expected to be around for another decade, providing clean energy and good-paying, stable jobs for the town and the region.”