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TexasTowelie

(116,745 posts)
Thu Apr 22, 2021, 09:07 PM Apr 2021

Lawmakers question Exelon audit

SPRINGFIELD – Members of a state Senate committee sharply criticized a recent audit of Exelon’s nuclear power plant operations that suggested ratepayers may need to subsidize two of those plants by as much as $350 million over the next five years.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s office and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency commissioned the audit last year, at a cost of $208,000, after Exelon announced in August that it plans to shutter its Byron and Dresden power plants later in 2021.

The audit, by the consulting firm Synapse Energy Economics Inc., was released in redacted form on IEPA’s website Aug. 14.

But Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, who chairs the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, criticized many of the redactions and insisted lawmakers be given complete copies of the report.

Read more: https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/lawmakers-question-exelon-audit

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Lawmakers question Exelon audit (Original Post) TexasTowelie Apr 2021 OP
Redactions SheltieLover Apr 2021 #1
That decision to shutter the Byron plant affects me and my area directly. murielm99 Apr 2021 #2
They have threatened to close before this. murielm99 Apr 2021 #3
Fortunately you get at least some of your news here on DU. TexasTowelie Apr 2021 #4
It is a little more complicated than that. murielm99 Apr 2021 #5

murielm99

(31,433 posts)
2. That decision to shutter the Byron plant affects me and my area directly.
Sun Apr 25, 2021, 01:11 PM
Apr 2021

When I look out my front windows, I can see the beakers of the Byron plant. Closure would devastate this area economically.

murielm99

(31,433 posts)
3. They have threatened to close before this.
Thu Apr 29, 2021, 02:38 AM
Apr 2021

Every time they make these threats, they get their taxes lowered.

Our county board will be having discussions about this. I have not seen any publicity about what has been discussed so far. Most of them are repiggie idiots.

I think Hastings is right to insist on seeing the whole report.

I will suggest that our Democratic central committee and some of our activist groups, like Indivisible, discuss this as well.

TexasTowelie

(116,745 posts)
4. Fortunately you get at least some of your news here on DU.
Thu Apr 29, 2021, 02:45 AM
Apr 2021

I wouldn't be surprised if the locals are keeping it under wraps hoping that the public won't notice.

murielm99

(31,433 posts)
5. It is a little more complicated than that.
Thu Apr 29, 2021, 05:16 AM
Apr 2021

Local groups are working to keep both plants open. They are working with our state rep to Springfield, who is a repiggie of the worst sort. He will use the Byron plant to his political advantage. This rep. has a snotty personality.

The papers here reflect the redness of the area. They have been critical of Governor Pritzker's efforts to study the situation and to try to work with Exelon. We are experiencing a serious budget shortfall as it is, because of the pandemic.

I am not going to criticize Pritzker's proposed solution beyond saying that we need to see the full report.

Pritzker is accessible to Democrats and activists. He knows me by sight, if not by name. I may see him in August, or in October. If I get a chance, I will ask him about this redacted report.

Also, I discovered recently that they may be serious about closing the Byron plant this time. When they refueled, they only refueled at one-third of their usual level. This could indicate that they plan to stay open only a few more months. I checked this with a person who is a member of our central committee and retired from the plant. He thinks they mean to close. They are not bluffing this time.

There was local reporting about Pritzker's tentative plan to give financial support to Exelon. But as far as I know, the issue has not come up with our county board. They are busy moaning and groaning about Pritzker's criminal justice bill that was just signed into law. The county sheriff, who has politicized his job, is keeping them busy worrying about qualified immunity. Qualified immunity has not changed. It was discussed, but not included in this new law. I know this because I participated in a zoom meeting with the architects of the bill. The purpose of the meeting was to provide correct information about the law, because the cops and the republicans are trying to tear it down. Our county board has spent an inordinate amount of time worrying about this law. The loudmouth of a sheriff has met with them and asked them to write some new ordinances affirming their qualified immunity. I don't know how much authority they have to do this. But they are farting around with this instead of trying to figure out what, if anything, they can do about the Byron plant.

That is what you get if you have republicans running things. They may as well be the Keystone Cops. You can see why I don't post much. I keep busy with local and state issues.

I am glad you posted this story and the link. I am going to pass it on to some of the other Democrats in my county. We are trying to get attention in a nonpolitical way. We will stay informed and contact our lawmakers. If the plant closes, it will not matter what party we belong to. The job losses will harm us all.

You provide a useful service to DU by posting all the news from the various states. I never fail to read your posts.

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