Byron 1 & 2

Basic Facts:

  • Location: Byron, Illinois
  • Owner: Exelon Corporation
  • Operator: Exelon Generation Co.
  • Construction Cost: $5.5B (2018$)
  • Plant Output: 2,300 MW (combined)
  • Property Size: 1,800 acres
  • Status: At Risk of Closure
  • Employees: 860
  • Expected Shut Down Date: Unit 1 (2044), Unit 2 (2046)
  • Current DTF Balance: $730M (2018$)
  • DTF Balance Prior to Decommissioning: $1.3B (2018$)
  • Decommissioning Cost Estimate: $1.0B (2018$)
  • Spent Nuclear Fuel on Site: 1,424 metric tons
Byron Photo

Background

The Byron Generating Station consists of two pressurized water reactors that together produce 2,300 MW of electricity. Plant construction began in 1975 and the NRC granted operating licenses for Unit 1 and Unit 2 in 1985 and 1987 respectively. In 2015, the NRC granted license renewals for Unit 1 (2044) and Unit 2 (2046).

Socioeconomics

The Byron Generating Station is located within Ogle County, Illinois. As of 2016:

  • Population: 520,000
  • Per Capita Annual Income: $42,000
  • Unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted): 5.0%

The annual payroll at the Byron Generating Station is approximately $82M and in 2017 the plant contributed $33M in property tax payments.

Contact Information

Economic Development Administration Representative:

Economic Development District

Nuclear Regulatory Commission:

Unless specific costing information has been provided, decommissioning costs were derived from 2017 Decommissioning Funding Status Report.
Information herein obtained from public sources. Corrections are welcome and may be directed to [email protected].

Additional Information

Byron residents in last ditch effort to save nuclear plant from closure

May 28, 2021

Byron residents in last ditch effort to save nuclear plant from closureBYRON, Ill. (WTVO) – Local advocates are doubling down on their efforts to save the Byron nuclear plant ahead of the end of the congressional legislative session on Monday. Exelon Generation announced the closure of the Byron and Dresden nuclear power generating stations in […]

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Local communities struggle with closures as Indian Point shuts down

May 12, 2021

Local communities struggle with closures as Indian Point shuts down A nuclear plant closure can leave a deep hole in local finances, thousands of well paid, highly skilled workers out of a job and retiring or migrating to other parts of the country, and cause a rise in respiratory problems as pollutant-spewing alternatives are brought […]

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Illinois lawmakers question Exelon audit

April 25, 2021

Illinois 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.

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State bill created to help save the Byron nuclear power plant

April 16, 2021

State bill created to help save the Byron nuclear power plant BYRON (WREX)- As the closure of the nuclear power plant in Byron approaches, lawmakers are trying everything to save it. One of those efforts is House Bill 1472. State Representative, and co-sponsor of the bill, Dave Vella, says the bill would act as a […]

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Nuclear Power Proponents Speak Out To Save Two Illinois Plants

April 2, 2021

Nuclear Power Proponents Speak Out To Save Two Illinois Plants – Illinois Newsroom CHAMPAIGN – Proponents of nuclear power in Illinois are rallying together in hopes of preventing the decommissioning of two nuclear power plants – the Byron and Dresden Generating Stations. Exelon announced late last year that it plans to retire the two plants […]

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Can the Byron nuclear power plant be saved?

April 1, 2021

Can the Byron nuclear power plant be saved? BYRON, Ill. (WTVO) – Another organization has announced its support to save two Illinois nuclear power plants from closing, including the Exelon Byron Generating Station. The University of Illinois and Chicago chapters of the American Nuclear Society hosted a webinar on Wednesday meant to educate state lawmakers […]

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Labor groups back bid to save Illinois nuclear plants

March 31, 2021

https://www.daily-journal.com/news/illinois/labor-groups-back-bid-to-save-illinois-nuclear-plants/article_3376ca7a-9160-11eb-8bb6-eb4584f7c751.html

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Rezin Says Bill to Save Nuclear Power Plants Could be Voted on This Spring

February 7, 2021

Rezin Says Bill to Save Nuclear Power Plants Could be Voted on This Spring State Senator Sue Rezin says there still haven’t been any bills proposed, but efforts are still underway to pass legislation to keep two nuclear power plants slated to close this year open. Rezin hopes to have something to vote on this […]

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Exelon Threatens To Mothball Four Nuclear Power Plants Unless Paid A Premium For Their Zero-Carbon Electricity

February 2, 2021

Exelon Threatens To Mothball Four Nuclear Power Plants Unless Paid A Premium For Their Zero-Carbon Electricity Lawmakers often turn to federally chartered “Independent Market Monitors” to vet the nuclear industry’s claims that its plants are money-losing. This is an investigation of how one of these expert groups arrived at its striking conclusion about two nuclear […]

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Illinois AFL-CIO releases updated nuclear impacts report

January 7, 2021

Illinois AFL-CIO releases updated nuclear impacts report ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – In response to Exelon’s announcement of the premature closure of two of Illinois’ six nuclear plants – Byron and Dresden, the Illinois AFL-CIO released an updated version of the Brattle Group’s Illinois Nuclear Impacts Report. The report highlights the economic losses and environmental impacts […]

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