Exelon closing Byron nuclear plant in September '21, Morris plant to follow, La Salle, Braidwood 'at risk'

BYRON – The Byron Nuclear Plant will be retired in September 2021, Exelon Generation announced in a news release this morning.

The Dresden plant in Morris will be closed that November.

The company cited low energy prices and the potential loss of "hundreds of millions of dollars" because of market rules that favor fossil fuel plants.

The plants have more than 1,500 full-time employees and employ more than 2,000 supplemental workers during refueling outages, most from local union halls, the release said.

Their four nuclear generation units supply energy to more than 4 million homes and businesses in northern Illinois. They also pay nearly $63 million in taxes annually that support schools, fire, police and other services, the release said.

The Byron plant was licensed to operate for another 20 years.

The La Salle and Braidwood nuclear stations also are at high risk for premature closure, the release said.