Nuclear energy representatives are in Springfield today in a last-ditch effort to save two of Exelon's Illinois plants. The energy behemoth says unless legislators pass a law by the end of this month, it will shut down the plants in Clinton and the Quad Cities.
Jeff Bartz, who's from Colona, says that would lead to a loss of thousands of jobs, and wipe out a big part of the regional tax base. Bartz says nuclear power has advantages.
"There's absolutely no carbon output. And it's much more reliable than solar or wind, and solar and wind are getting the tax breaks that nuclear is not. And nuclear is much more reliable"
Exelon says the Clinton and Quad Cities plants are on the chopping block because they're losing money. But critics point out that the company is still profitable overall. They say the company is asking ratepayers for a bailout.
Negotiations at the capitol remain in flux. Solar companies say the current proposal could knock their industry out of the Illinois market.
