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 pull together in hopes of saving nuclear plant

September 21, 2020

Byron residents pull together in hopes of saving nuclear plantBYRON, Ill. (WTVO) – The Byron School Board formed the Byron Station Response Committee last week to identify and mobilize groups that will work to keep the nuclear power plant there open. Exelon announced it would close the Byron Generating Station last month, blaming declining energy […]

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Plant closing would hurt area economy

September 8, 2020

Plant closing would hurt area economy BYRON – If the Byron Generating Station does close in September 2021, it will mean more than a loss of about 700 jobs. It will also mean the loss of millions of dollars in taxes locally. Exelon Generation announced on Aug. 27 that it intends to retire its Byron […]

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Byron, Morris nuclear plants tentatively set for closure

September 3, 2020

Byron, Morris nuclear plants tentatively set for closure By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Exelon Corporation on Aug. 27 announced plans to close two Illinois nuclear power plants next year in a decision the company claims is independent of legislative energy policy negotiations. But, in a news release announcing the closures, Exelon’s CEO […]

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Without nuclear plant money, two Illinois towns could face tough decisions

September 2, 2020

Without nuclear plant money, two Illinois towns could face tough decisions (The Center Square) – The planned closure of two nuclear power plants in Illinois could require rural tax districts to make difficult choices when they cut millions of dollars in spending. Nuclear power company Exelon announced last week it would decommission facilities in Byron […]

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Without another bailout, Exelon plans to close two Illinois nuclear plants next year

August 31, 2020

Without another bailout, Exelon plans to close two Illinois nuclear plants next year With Gov. J.B. Pritzker blocking another round of ratepayer subsidies, ComEd’s parent company said Thursday it plans to close two of the state’s nuclear plants next year. Because nuclear power doesn’t emit heat-trapping pollution, some analysts and scientists think it should be […]

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Exelon’s Crane says decision on nuke closures looming

August 5, 2020

Exelon’s Crane says decision on nuke closures looming “We will not run plants and lose free cash flow or earnings on assets that are not supporting themselves,” Crane said. “It’s reality,” he added. “We’ve shut two units down in recent years if we could not see a path to sustainability of those assets in the […]

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Ready or not, Springfield preps for an energy-industry rumble

January 28, 2020

Ready or not, Springfield preps for an energy-industry rumble For decades, major energy initiatives in Illinois have run through two gatekeepers-House Speaker Michael Madigan and Commonwealth Edison. Springfield is preparing to test whether it can fundamentally alter the state’s energy future with those two political powerhouses sidelined. “We have a lot of work to do-and […]

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Legal cloud or no, CEO says Exelon will close nukes without spring bailout

November 4, 2019
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Illinois lawmakers move ahead with bill to benefit nuclear power plants

March 27, 2019
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Exelon threatens closure of three more Illinois nukes

February 13, 2019
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