All hands are on deck to save the Byron nuclear plant – Rockford Register Star

Shaquil Manigault|Rockford Register Star

ROCKFORD With more than2,300 jobs at stake, community leaders, residents and elected officials are coming together to do everything they can to save the Byron Generating Station.

Exelon announced in late August that it plans to close the Byron nuclear power plant in September 2021 and the Dresden Generating Station in Morris two months later. In response, a group that includedlocal business ownersand Byron School District officials formed the Byron Station Response Committee to galvanize the public and lobby lawmakers to keep the plant open.

Since organizing in September, the committee has grown to more than40 members.

For now, the committee is focused on laying the ground needed to get residents involved in future lobbying efforts. Whatthose will be remains to be seen as the committee monitorslegislators' plans to address clean energy in Illinois, something Gov. JB Pritzker had made atop priority before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

More: Exelon to shut down Byron and Dresden nuclear plants

More: NIU report: Byron nuclear plant closure would lead to 2,300 jobs lost

The Byron School Districts budget relies on$19.1 million a year in property revenue generated by the plant. That accounts for more than 70% of the school districts budget. School Board President Christine Lynde says that if the plant were to close in September the district would receive the full amount owed in taxes through the 2022-2023 school year. The tax revenue would likely decline in succeeding years as the decommissioning process proceeds.

The absolute is that we have a couple of years where we will receive taxes. After that, its up in the air," Lynde said. "Will we get something? Yes, will get something. Do we know what that is? Nope, and there is no way to tell."

WithIllinois lawmakers not scheduled to meetagain until next year, Lynde says the committee doesnt have specific plans for advocacy but is encouraging people to register online atsaveilnuclearpower.com so that the groupcan communicate about lobbying efforts when the time comes.

Exelon has pushed state lawmakers to a role in establishing energy prices that would allow nuclear plants to compete with natural gas and coal plants. Pritzker says that transitioning to clean renewable energy is a priority, but that utility companies will not write the legislation to get the state there. He said any new laws must protect consumers.

Lynde hopes legislators take up the issue when they reconvene.

We want whatever it's going to take to keep this open, Lynde said. If you look at the big picture of things, the market favors every generation source except nuclear and so I get why theyare saying that there is a flawed market.

Exelon declined to talk about any discussionswith the state so far but said that legislation would need to be passed by spring 2021 in order to avoid closure.

Declining energy prices and flawed market policies that favor fossil generation have resulted in Byron and Dresden Stations becoming unprofitable and being slated for early retirement in the fall of 2021. The legislative solution needed would properly recognize the environmental value of the carbon-free product produced at Byron Station which also accounts for enormous economic value to the state of Illinois, Byron Station Communications ManagerPaul Dempsey in an e-mail.

For now, the committee is doing what it can to keep people informed about the plants importance to the community and the state.

An economic impact study commissioned by the committee and prepared by Brian Harger, a senior research specialist at Northern Illinois University, shows that closing the plant would indirectly and directly put thousands out of work and could also strip $97.5 million in annual employee compensation from the local economy.

The committee also launched a YouTube campaign, asking residents to make videos explaining what the plant means to them and how its closure would affect them. These videos will later be shared with lawmakers.

We wanted to offer an information hub where people could come and grab accurate information. A place where they could learn about nuclear power and the impact it will have on our community and our state as a whole, Lynde said.

State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, says hes been meeting with colleagues in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to make lawmakers aware of the energy challenges that Illinois faces.

Demmer says there arent any concrete solutions yet, but he said that any bill that wouldkeep the Byron plant open would be part of a comprehensive energy plan.

While theprocess will take months, Demmer feels talks are heading in the right direction.

We havent found people that have said no they should just close and go away. Weve got a lot more receptiveness," Demmer said. "Now weve got to find exactly the right way to save the plant and thats not going to be easy, but I am encouraged by the number of people who are willing to have those conversations and who are trying to find a way to keep the plant open."

Lynde acknowledges the difficult position that the community is in but believes that ultimately they will be successful in keeping the plant open.

We want people to understand that it's a serious thing but we believe that we are going to be successful, she said.

Shaquil Manigault: smanigault@rrstar.com; @rrstarShaquil

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All hands are on deck to save the Byron nuclear plant - Rockford Register Star