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Legislator pleads case for nuke plant

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Illinois

Exelon has introduced a 316-page amendment to a bill in the state Senate (SB 1585) that [Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth] said is still being analyzed by House Republican staff. The legislation refers to “zero emission credits from zero emission resources,” such as nuclear energy.

Mitchell said he was told by Exelon officials that the legislation would cost the state about $150 million.

“I think you can say that the old bill was a $300 million cost to the state. This is about half of that, $150 million, and that’s between the two plants, Quad Cities and Clinton.

“According to Exelon they just want to be on the same level playing field with natural gas and other sources.”

At a meeting in Clinton last month, Mitchell and state Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet — who also is scheduled to be at Thursday’s meeting with Rauner — said the plant employs 700 people with a median annual salary of $90,000. And its annual property tax bill includes $7.6 million to the Clinton school district, $2 million to DeWitt County government and $1 million to Richland Community College in Decatur.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:07 pm

Comments

Why do they use median salary here and average salary when talking about state employees? A median salary of $90,000 means that 50% of the employees earn more than that. I bet the average is considerably higher.

Where’s the outrage? Why such cushy salaries? Is this what we’re paying for? /s

Comment by MSIX Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:16 pm
If they drop their desire to move to Demand Pricing, maybe/

Comment by Union Man Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:22 pm
700 x $90k = $63 million. Add in $10 mil for property tax and were at $73 million. Better off having the state cut a check directly to the 700 people and taxing districts than a $150 million bill.

Comment by IllinoisO'Malley Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:22 pm
What I’ve been told by someone who works for Exelon- any Exelon employees will be offered jobs with Exelon elsewhere. So no need to subsidize those jobs at all. It will be all the contracted employees that will not have guarantees of another job. The question, just like asking to see Exelon’s books, is how many employees is that number???

Regardless, $150 or $300 million. Exelon can take care of themselves. At some point the plant(s) will close, and then, I guarantee it, Exelon will be sobbing for money to help fund the decommissioning costs. Taxpayers are already paying for their “babysitting” of the waste.

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:24 pm
MSIX ….Perhaps because many of them are nuclear engineers? Just guessing that there are not a lot of those folks wandering about. Supply and demand. Of course if you want Homer J Simpson at the helm of a reactor ??? Then by all means pay $15 an hour.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:26 pm
Corporate blackmail for corporate welfare.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:29 pm
IllinoisO’Malley - Well, Exelon is kinda trying that in MA-

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20160509/NEWS/160506220

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Some “light” (pun if you like) reading- the amendment:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/99/SB/PDF/09900SB1585sam002.pdf

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:33 pm
@NorthSideNoMore

Hence the snark symbol at the end of my rant. But since you brought it up, the same logic can be made about the “outrageous” salaries that certain people claim are made by university faculty members. Do you want a $15/hr instructor for your med school student? Or future bridge builder? Do you think the vastly complex IT systems on college campuses today can be maintained by minimum wage employees? (Rhetorical question there.)

Salaries need to be judged by more than the actual numbers after the dollar sign. And salaries for employee groups (such as ASFCME) should be looked at using the median of the group, and not the “average” of all state employees, most of whom are not AFSCME.

Comment by MSIX Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:42 pm
Yet another example of a profitable public utility blackmailing the GA and the citizens for even more “free money”. Complex issues and details, to be sure, but the net effect never bodes well for the rate payers.

Do we still have a CUB and does it have any input or influence on these questions and issues????

Comment by illini Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:51 pm
illini- There is still a CUB. Here’s one of their action items:

https://secure3.convio.net/cerf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=325

Newsroom- http://citizensutilityboard.org/news20160505_Crains_ExelonNewLegislation

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 3:02 pm
I wonder if Rep. Bill Mitchell would support requiring Illinois taxpayers to pony up %150 million to subsidize 700 jobs on the southside of Chicago?

Comment by tominchicago Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 3:14 pm
they reported huge peofits and pay millions in bonuses. let them shut down the plants and take them over as public utilities. this is pure greed

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 3:14 pm
I didn’t know Exelon, or any corporation, could introduce an amendment. I thought only legislators could do that.

I was so naive.

Comment by Keyrock Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 3:26 pm
Remind me, how did Mitchell and Rose vote on appropriations k-12? Higher ed? Social services funding?

Oh yeah, I remember now.

I guess these poor, downtrodden Com Ed execs really need their help. Always nice to have a couple of lackeys to run out and do your bidding, especially those without a discernible conscience.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 3:41 pm
Maybe Chapin will require a picture on their corporate welfare ID card, similar to his LINK card.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 5:02 pm
If Rose and Mitchell are consistent, Amendment 1 requires drug testing of ComEd/Exelon execs.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 5:19 pm
“If it walks like a duck, it’s a bailout.” Courtesy of our fine Senator from Palatine.

Comment by Under Influenced Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 5:36 pm
So if the plants close will cost of replacement power be more by 150 million or not?

Comment by Bob Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 10:04 pm