Senate passes bill allowing small nuclear reactor construction in 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois senators approved a plan Wednesday to lift the 1987 moratorium on nuclear construction months after Gov. JB Pritzker vetoed a similar plan that gained bipartisan support in both chambers. A bipartisan group of lawmakers want to remove the moratorium to take advantage of new carbon-free technology and build 300 Megawatt reactors in central and southern Illinois.

"Some people predict 5 or 10 years is when they'll be rolled out in the commercial market," said Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). "It's important because right now is when people are making decisions on the future direction of their energy needs."

The new legislation could remove the moratorium and allow the state to build the small modular reactors starting January 1, 2026. House Bill 2473 requires the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to establish rules regarding decommissioning, environmental monitoring and emergency preparedness for the modular reactors.

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said her plan also calls for the governor to commission a study on the state's role in guiding development of small nuclear reactors.

"24/7, 365 days rain or shine, nuclear is powering America's clean energy future," Rezin said. "Nuclear provides clean, reliable and secure energy that we can count on to help reach our clean energy goals here in Illinois."

Rezin noted that the proposal will not conflict with federal laws or regulations on existing nuclear plants. She thanked Senate President Don Harmon, legislative staff and the Pritzker administration for working with business and labor stakeholders to reach an agreement.

Pritzker felt the original bill's language was too vague and could allow construction of large nuclear facilities, which was not the original intent of the legislation. Many Illinois environmental groups also argue that the plan did not have enough regulatory protections.

"My father was the one who sponsored the bill to ban nuclear waste in the state of Illinois," said Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Kankakee). "It was a concern. As technology changes, we need to make sure that we change with it."

House Bill 2473 passed out of the Senate a bipartisan 44-7 vote. It now heads to the House for consideration.

Sierra Club Illinois is disappointed that the state could open the door to unknown technology without understanding the risks and costs of small modular reactors. Director Jack Darin told WAND News Wednesday night that clean energy advocates appreciate some of the changes in the latest proposal.

However, Darin said lawmakers should've passed a plan allowing the state to conduct a study on the small nuclear reactors and see the results before lifting the moratorium.

"We’ve got a lot of wind and solar and storage projects waiting in line to get onto our power grid," Darin said. "That’s really what the General Assembly should be focused on."

The fall veto session is scheduled to adjourn on Thursday.