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

Not Much Movement Yet on Legislation to Save Two Nuclear Power Plants from Closure

December 22, 2020

Not Much Movement Yet on Legislation to Save Two Nuclear Power Plants from ClosureMorris State Senator Sue Rezin says there hasn’t been much movement on timely legislation to prevent two nuclear power plants in Morris and Byron from closing down late next year. The two power plants are owned and operated by Exelon.

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Leaders discuss economic fallout of potential Byron Nuclear Plant closure

December 10, 2020

Leaders discuss economic fallout of potential Byron Nuclear Plant closure BYRON, Ill. (WIFR) – The push to save the Byron Nuclear Plant is on, as local leaders and community members advocate for the reactors to keep operating. “There is a lot of uncertainty which obviously leads to 727 plant employees that are a little uneasy […]

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Rockford community fights to keep Exelon nuclear plant open

December 8, 2020

Rockford community fights to keep Exelon nuclear plant open ROCKFORD – Community leaders, residents and elected officials in Illinois are working to keep a nuclear energy company from closing its plant. In August, Exelon announced that it would close its Byron nuclear power plant in September 2021 and the Dresden Generating Station in Morris two […]

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Building trades group opposes closure of Byron Nuclear Plant

December 6, 2020

Building trades group opposes closure of Byron Nuclear Plant BYRON (WREX) – The Northwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council announced Friday its opposition to the closure of the Exelon nuclear plant in Byron. The closure, which was announced in August, is slated for September 2021. This announcement is the latest of several labor leaders, […]

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All hands are on deck to save the Byron nuclear plant

November 30, 2020

All hands are on deck to save the Byron nuclear plant ROCKFORD – With more than 2,300 jobs at stake, community leaders, residents and elected officials are coming together to do everything they can to save the Byron Generating Station. Exelon announced in late August that it plans to close the Byron nuclear power plant […]

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NIU report: Byron nuclear plant closure would lead to 2,300 jobs lost

October 23, 2020

NIU report: Byron nuclear plant closure would lead to 2,300 jobs lost BYRON – A new report from Northern Illinois University says closing the Byron Generating Station will result in the loss of more 2,300 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of economic activity.Closing the nuclear power plant will put roughly 720 people […]

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Move to save nuclear plant

October 19, 2020

Move to save nuclear plant State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, has created a website dedicated to helping save the Byron Nuclear Power Plant, which, if shuttered, would cost the area 727 jobs and $38 million in annual tax revenue. “The Byron Generating Station is an important cornerstone of the Ogle County economy,” Demmer said.

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Illinois Nuke-Plant Exits Poised to Gut Small-Town Budgets

October 2, 2020

Illinois Nuke-Plant Exits Poised to Gut Small-Town Budgets (Bloomberg) — Two Illinois communities are getting a lesson in the dangers of relying too heavily on one taxpayer as Exelon Corp. prepares to close a pair of nuclear power stations next year, eliminating thousands of well-paying jobs and eviscerating local budgets.

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A look at Exelon’s 4 economically challenged nuclear plants in Illinois

September 25, 2020

A look at Exelon’s 4 economically challenged nuclear plants in Illinois Exelon Corp. -owned nuclear power plants in Illinois eyed for early retirement have had declining financial margins of late, according to an analysis using S&P Global Market Intelligence’s plant-level production cost model.

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Byron station response committee established

September 25, 2020

Byron station response committee established A group of Ogle County organization representatives won’t be taking the Byron nuclear plant’s planned closure lying down. An announcement was made last Friday about the formation of the Byron Station Response Committee, which plans to develop a “collaborative, broad-based response” to Exelon’s announcement of its intent to close Byron […]

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