The Illinois Senate has approved the removal of a longstanding moratorium on new nuclear power installations according to a report by NBC Chicago. This decision might pave the way for the use of small modular reactors (SMRs) to help the state fulfill its objective of achieving carbon-free power production by 2045.
A law signed last year by Governor J.B. Pritzker requires Illinois to produce only carbon-free electricity by 2045, necessitating the closure of several coal-fired power plants and the further development of renewable energy sources. However, industry insiders insist that the full embracement of novel nuclear technologies may be critical to the state successfully moving toward clean energy sources.
As per a report from AP News, SMRs are being developed to serve as compact and efficient power sources, predominantly intended for use by factory-scale energy consumers. Despite these reactors facing at least a decade before they can be fully operational due to regulatory and technological obstacles, advocates endorse the state’s move, claiming now is the right time to prepare for their future integration into the state's energy infrastructure.
Sen. Sue Rezin, who sponsored the legislation, demands quick acceptance of the new nuclear technology. "If we want to reap the rewards of the remarkable progress in new nuclear technology over the past few decades and maintain pace with other states, we should act immediately," she stated.
As AP News reports, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has been assigned the responsibility of supervising the newly installed reactors as part of the newly approved legislation, after concerns raised by Governor Pritzker. Also, Sen. Patrick Joyce, a Democrat from Reddick, succinctly stated, "As technology evolves, we must ensure that we evolve along with it."
