Illinois legislature lifts ban on nuclear energy, funds clean energy

The Illinois General Assembly passed a clean energy bill on October 30 that would, in part, lift a 30-year moratorium on new nuclear energy in the state and create incentives for more energy storage.

The legislation (Senate Bill 25, "Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act") now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker, who said he looked forward to "signing this bill into law and help Illinoisans keep costs lower and keep the lights on." The bill passed the state Senate 37-22, and the state House 70-37.

The bill also lifts the ban on new large-scale nuclear reactors starting on January 1, 2026. It follows a law that Pritzker signed in 2023 lifting the moratorium on small modular reactor builds in the state.

In addition, the bill includes provisions for increased battery storage, expanded energy efficiency programs, and new planning tools to better manage energy demand and supply, the goal being to lower electricity costs by improving grid reliability and promoting clean energy.

Boost for new nuclear plants: Illinois boasts the highest number of utility-scale nuclear reactors in the U.S.-11 across six plant sites-and the bill would encourage the building of new SMRs. It would also, however, increase fees on nuclear plant operators.

Tech companies have been investing in nuclear energy projects across the country to power data centers that are increasingly being built to support the energy demand coming from the AI technology boom.

That includes a 20-year power purchase agreement that Meta signed with Constellation in June to ensure the continued operation of single nuclear plants at the 1,092-MWe Clinton Clean Energy Center, as Nuclear Newswire previously reported.