Illinois lifts moratorium on new large nuclear reactors

New power reactors of any size can be now be sited in the state of Illinois, thanks to legislation signed by Gov. J. B. Pritzker on January 8. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA)-which Pritzker says is designed to lower energy costs for consumers, drive the development of new energy resources in the state, and strengthen the grid-lifts the moratorium on new, large nuclear reactors that Illinois enacted in the late 1980s.

The CRGA will go into effect on June 1. Illinois will then be able to add large-scale capacity to its nuclear fleet, which already has more power reactors than any other site-11 across six plant sites.

New views: The CRGA was passed by the Illinois General Assembly on October 30, 2025, clearing the state Senate by a vote of 37-22 and the state House by 70-37. Pritzker's signing of this legislation represented a shift from his August 2023 veto of a bill that would have lifted the state's large reactor moratorium. At that time, he condemned that bill for "open[ing] the door to the proliferation of large-scale nuclear reactors that are so costly to build that they will cause exorbitant ratepayer-funded bailouts."

Later that same year, Pritzker signed a bill to allow the construction of small modular reactors in Illinois. Now, the signing of the CRGA indicates that Pritzker wants the state to attract new nuclear investments.

At a press event announcing the new act in Joliet, Pritzker said, "In Illinois, we are pursuing every available option to produce affordable, efficient, clean, and abundant energy. We are leaving no stone unturned in the work to produce more electricity, lower prices for our people, and secure our long-term energy future. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act sets a national standard in the effort to lower energy costs and marks a historic step forward in our clean energy vision. Once again, Illinois is stepping up where the federal government is failing."

Other provisions: There are several other provisions of the CRGA besides the lifting of the reactor moratorium. The act establishes a state procurement goal of 3 GW of grid-scale battery storage by 2030. It requires utilities to create "virtual power plant" programs that will reward participating households and businesses for using smart thermostats, solar panels, small batteries, and electric vehicles. The act also requires utilities that are administering state energy-efficiency programs to meet a minimum level of spending to help low-income households.

Additional provisions of the CRGA include the creation of an integrated resource planning process to find ways to keep energy bills low and make improvements to state programs, a requirement for the Illinois Power Agency to propose long-term clean energy contract procurements for Illinois Commerce Commission approval, and an increase in the maximum size for community solar projects to 10 MW.