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Kinzinger asks Biden to step in to keep two Exelon nuke plants open

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Illinois

* Sauk Valley Media…

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, asked the Biden Administration to use executive authority to keep the Byron and Dresden nuclear power stations operating.

Kinzinger, in a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, asks that emergency powers be used until the legislative process in Illinois or Washington offers a solution. […]

“I am gravely concerned about both the nationwide trend of a thinning nuclear fleet as well the parochial interests involved with the decommissioning of Byron and Dresden stations, the result of which will be disastrous for individuals and municipalities in my district.”

Kinzinger wrote that the Defense Production Act and the Federal Power Act both offer routes the president could take to keep the stations open for reasons of national defense and public interest.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 4:35 pm

Comments

Biden could and should do this.

Would also remove Harmon/Jake’s leverage in scuttling the talks to date

Comment by SpiDem Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 4:46 pm
At this point we should just nationalize the plants if they’re important to our energy strategy/global climate change strategy.

Since the plants are losing money and have no value, sounds like we wouldn’t really even owe Exelon anything and would just be doing them a favor.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 4:49 pm
Couldn’t hurt.

Plus, it’s a marker for Kinzinger on the issue that’s fresh and current

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 4:51 pm
How small government of him

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 4:56 pm
Maybe he doesn’t know four people are under indictment for allegedly giving internships to some kids and hiring a law firm allegedly as a bribe to an elected official to help pass a bill that bailed out some nukes.

Comment by Mockery Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 5:05 pm
that letter will result in a nice donation from EXC but nothing more. Timing shows it is pure PR, just like Kinzinger.

Comment by illinoyed Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 5:17 pm
I love Eisenhower Republicans.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 5:21 pm
===will result in a nice donation from EXC===

Why? The plants are losing money. They want to shutter them or get $$$ to keep them open.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 5:29 pm
=== In 14 months the Democratic candidate will bring up Mockery’s comment and demand the $15,000 be donated to charity. I imagine this letter cost Excelon lobsters $15,000.===

Meh. More folks are worried about the plants closing or opening on the merits than any court case.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 5:29 pm
I would imagine that Excelon would give the plants to the government with the expectation that taxpayers would be responsible for the cost of closing the plants and providing the lifetime of care for the spent fuel rods.

Comment by Blackhawk Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 5:44 pm
==+the expectation that taxpayers would be responsible for the cost of closing the plants and providing the lifetime of care for the spent fuel rods. ===

The feds have been promising to take those spent fuel rods for decades…the problem is that no state is willing to host the facility.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 6:05 pm
=== taxpayers would be responsible for the cost of closing the plants and providing the lifetime of care for the spent fuel rods. ===

I’m pretty confident that’s the long term plan for any private for profit company operating a nuclear reactor regardless of whether or not they mean to.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 7:16 pm
This issue is not getting enough attention right now.

Comment by Citizen Kane Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 7:43 pm
=At this point we should just nationalize the plants if they’re important to our energy strategy/global climate change strategy.=

I think your comment was meant seriously and I could not agree more. Especially given the fact that, with all of the free money they have already received from Illinois, we have already paid them the cost of the plants and then some.

There was a time (1950’s and 60′) when the GOP saw part of governments role to provide high quality services for citizens. This could be a new way to do just that and ensure reasonably priced and safe electric.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 7:56 pm
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer reaccs only

Comment by Gladhander Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 9:05 pm
I feel so sorry for the CEO and Board of Directors. They are literally almost on food stamps. Almost. Do you have no compassion for the struggling stockholders? They may take a loss! On investments…that kind of market swing can not be tolerated….except for businesses that burn coal and gas. What kind of middle class liberal Democrat are you?

Comment by Basic Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 10:00 pm
What can go wrong? Biden has a great track record of success for the last 7 months.

Comment by The Snowman Tuesday, Aug 24, 21 @ 10:02 pm
Byron and Dresden will close, sooner or later. If Kinzinger is truly concerned about the economic impact on his constituents he should be a co-sponsor on HR 3731 STRANDED Nuclear Waste Act to provide waste storage fees to those communities. https://tinyurl.com/Atomic-Graveyards

Comment by Commissioner Fischer Wednesday, Aug 25, 21 @ 7:29 am

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