Constellation Seeks License to Operate Dresden Clean Energy Center for an Additional 20 Years - Seite 2

Public support for nuclear energy has increased in recent years both in the U.S. and globally as concerns about climate change and energy reliability have grown. Nuclear energy plants are the only carbon-free, baseload energy resources that can operate 24/7 in all weather conditions. In severe weather events like the 2014 polar vortex and Winter Storm Elliot on Christmas Eve in 2022, nuclear facilities have repeatedly kept the nation’s electric grid operating continuously when Americans needed power the most. Constellation’s clean energy centers have operated almost 95% of the time over the past 5 years.

The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) enacted by Illinois lawmakers in 2021 prevented Dresden from being retired prematurely during a period of economic uncertainty. Enactment of the federal nuclear production tax credit in 2022 extended policy support through 2032. Renewing the NRC license for Dresden will give Constellation the ability to keep this plant operating through 2051, although future policy and market conditions will ultimately determine how long the plant operates.

Enabling the continued operation of Dresden through renewal of its NRC license would provide the State of Illinois an estimated 305 terawatt hours of additional carbon-free electricity over the 20-year extended lifespan of the plant. This is more clean energy than all of Illinois’ wind and solar facilities have produced to date. This additional carbon-free electricity can be used to power decarbonization of the industrial, agricultural and transportation sectors through the production of clean hydrogen and to drive investment in the state’s growing data economy.

The Dresden site employs nearly 700 people and is one of Grundy County’s largest employers. The facility’s workforce more than doubles during its annual refueling and maintenance outage, helping increase worker payrolls and improve the bottom lines of local businesses. Over the next 10 years, more than half of Constellation’s nuclear reactors are expected to require NRC license renewal. Securing those license renewals and continuing to operate each plant will create thousands of high-paying, family sustaining jobs.

“Constellation’s Dresden Clean Energy Center is an economic engine for Grundy County and the surrounding communities,” said Nancy Norton, president and CEO of Grundy County Economic Development. “The station’s hundreds of employees and contractors are part of the fabric of our community and spend their earnings at local stores, restaurants and businesses. Dresden is the No. 1 contributor of property taxes that support emergency response, education and many other government services that impact the daily lives of Grundy County residents.”