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Data for 2010  |  Release Date: April 26, 2012  |  Next Release: February 2013  |   full report

Illinois Nuclear Profile 2010 Illinois profile

Illinois total electric power industry, summer capacity and net generation, by energy source, 2010  
Primary energy source Summer capacity
(mw)
Share of State total
(percent)
Net generation
(thousand mwh)
Share of State total
(percent)
Nuclear 11,441 25.9 96,190 47.8
Coal 15,551 35.2 93,611 46.5
Hydro and Pumped Storage 34 0.1 119 0.1
Natural Gas 13,771 31.2 5,724 2.8
Other 1 145 0.3 461 0.2
Other Renewable1 2,078 4.7 5,138 2.6
Petroleum 1,106 2.5 110 0.1
Total 44,127 100.0 201,352 100
1Municipal Solid Waste net generation is allocated according to the biogenic and non-biogenic components of the fuel; however, all Municipal Solid Waste summer capacity is classified as Renewable.
Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.
Other: Blast furnace gas, propane gas, other manufactured and waste gases derived from fossil fuels, non-biogenic municipal solid waste, batteries, chemicals, hydrogen, pitch, purchased steam, sulfur, tire-derived fuel, and miscellaneous technologies.
Other Renewable: Wood, black liquor, other wood waste, biogenic municipal solid waste, landfill gas, sludge waste, agriculture byproducts, other biomass, geothermal, solar thermal, photovoltaic energy, and wind.
Sources: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report."

Illinois nuclear power plants, summer capacity and net generation, 2010  
Plant name/total reactors Summer capacity
(mw)
Net generation
(thousand mwh)
Share of State nuclear
net generation (percent)
Owner
Braidwood Generation Station
Unit 1, Unit 2
2,330 19,200 20.0 Exelon Nuclear
Byron Generating Station
Unit 1, Unit 2
2,300 19,856 20.6 Exelon Nuclear
Clinton Power Station
Unit 1
1,065 8,612 9.0 Exelon Nuclear
Dresden Generating Station
Unit 2, Unit 3
1,734 14,593 15.2 Exelon Nuclear
LaSalle Generating Station
Unit 1, Unit 2
2,238 19,133 19.9 Exelon Nuclear
Quad Cities Generating Station
Unit 1, Unit 2
1,774 14,796 15.4 Exelon Nuclear
6 Plants
11 Reactors
11,441 96,190 100.0  
Note: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.
Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report."

Plants in State

Braidwood Generation Station Nuclear Plant 
Unit Summer capacity
(mw)
Net generation
(thousand mwh)
Summer capacity factor (percent) Type Commercial operation date License expiration date
1 1,178 9,197 89.1 PWR 7/29/1988 10/17/2026
2 1,152 10,003 99.1 PWR 10/17/1988 12/18/2027
  2,330 19,200 94.1      
Data for 2010
PWR = Pressurized Light Water Reactor.
Note: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.
Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report."

Description:  The Braidwood Station is located in Will County in northeastern Illinois. It serves Chicago and northern Illinois. Braidwood's recent uprates make it the largest nuclear plant in the State. The three largest Illinois' plants, however, are nearly equal (LaSalle is only 2 net megawatts smaller than Braidwood and Byron is only 4 net megawatts less in capacity than LaSalle). According to the Exelon Corporation's web site, the plant has a workforce of 800 employees and contractors with an annual payroll of over $60 million. In April 2006, it was announced that tritium was discovered in groundwater at the site. In a company press release, it was stated that "Exelon has taken full responsibility for the releases into the ground and has held itself publicly accountable for cleaning up the groundwater, much of which remains on plant property."

According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC):
Tritium is a mildly radioactive type of hydrogen that occurs both naturally and during the operation of nuclear power plants. Water containing tritium and other radioactive substances is normally released from nuclear plants under controlled, monitored conditions the NRC mandates to protect public health and safety. The NRC recently identified several instances of unintended tritium releases, and all available information shows no threat to the public.

On June 30, 2006, NRC announced a ‘white’ finding and issued a Notice of Violation to Exelon Generation Company for “failures to perform surveys following historical leaks, to assess the environmental impact on the public, and to control licensed material.” Exelon has thirty days to respond.

In August 2006, the NRC reported that the number one nuclear generating unit at Braidwood ranked 12th Internationally and first in the Nation in output. (To enable comparison with foreign units, the NRC based this on gross output. Gross output includes the electricity used by the plant and, although it can vary significantly, is generally about 5 percent greater than net output.) For additional information on tritium, consult the NRC web site.

Braidwood, Unit 1

Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = Westinghouse Electric Company
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon Corporation
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon Corporation

Braidwood, Unit 2

Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = Westinghouse Electric Company
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon Corporation
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon Corporation


Byron Nuclear Power Plant 
Unit Summer capacity
(mw)
Net generation
(thousand mwh)
Summer capacity factor (percent) Type Commercial operation date License expiration date
1 1,164 10,337 101.4 PWR 9/16/1985 10/31/2024
2 1,136 9,518 95.6 PWR 8/1/1987 11/6/2026
  2,300 19,856 98.5      
Data for 2010
PWR = Pressurized Light Water Reactor.
Note: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.
Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report."

Description: The Byron plant contains two light water reactors. The following description was obtained from the Exelon Corporation's nuclear web site. The Byron site covers approximately 1,782 acres in a location about 20 miles from Byron in northern Illinois. The twin cooling towers are 495 feet in height. Construction costs total approximately $4.5 billion. The workforce consists of 690 employees and 100 permanent contractors. The payroll is about $60 million. Exelon estimates the payments for local real estate taxes at $26 million.

Byron, Unit 1

Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = Westinghouse Electric Company
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon Corporation
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon Corporation

Byron, Unit 2

Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = Westinghouse Electric Company
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon Corporation
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon Corporation

Clinton Nuclear Power Plant 
Unit Summer capacity
(mw)
Net generation
(thousand mwh)
Summer capacity factor (percent) Type Commercial operation date License expiration date
1 1,065 8,612 92.3 BWR 11/24/1987 9/29/2026
  1,065 8,612 92.3      
Data for 2010
BWR = Boiling Water Reactor.
Note: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.
Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report."

Description: The Clinton Power Station and its 5,000-acre cooling reservoir are located on a 14000-acre site near Clinton, Illinois. Clinton's final construction cost exceeded $4 billion, leading the plant to produce some of the most expensive power in the Midwest.

Clinton Unit 1
Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric (U.S.)
Architect Engineer = Sargent and Lundy
Owner = Exelon Corporation
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon Generating Co., L.L.C.

Dresden Generating Station 
Unit Summer capacity
(mw)
Net generation
(thousand mwh)
Summer capacity factor (percent) Type Commercial operation date License expiration date
2 867 7,727 101.7 BWR 6/9/1970 12/22/2029
3 867 6,866 90.4 BWR 11/16/1971 1/12/2031
  1,734 14,593 96.1      
Data for 2010
BWR = Boiling Water Reactor.
Note: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.
Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report."

Description: The Dresden nuclear power plant is located on a 953-acre site in Grundy County. It serves Chicago and the northern quarter of the State. Dresden 1 was retired in 1978.

Dresden, Unit 2
Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon Corporation
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon

Dresden, Unit 3
Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon Corporation
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon

La Salle Generating Station 
Unit Summer capacity
(mw)
Net generation
(thousand mwh)
Summer capacity factor (percent) Type Commercial operation date License expiration date
1 1,118 9,207 94.0 BWR 1/1/1984 4/17/2022
2 1,120 9,926 101.2 BWR 10/19/1984 12/16/2023
  2,238 19,133 97.6      
Data for 2010
BWR = Boiling Water Reactor.
Note: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.
Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report."

Description: The LaSalle County dual-reactor station serves Chicago and northern Illinois.

LaSalle, Unit 1

Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon

LaSalle, Unit 2

Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon

Quad Cities Generating Station 
Unit Summer capacity
(mw)
Net generation
(thousand mwh)
Summer capacity factor (percent) Type Commercial operation date License expiration date
1 882 7,646 99.0 BWR 2/18/1973 12/14/2032
2 892 7,150 91.5 BWR 3/10/1973 12/14/2032
  1,774 14,796 95.2      
Data for 2010
BWR = Boiling Water Reactor.
Note: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.
Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report."

Description: The Quad Cities power plant is named for the nearby cities of Davenport, Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline. The power plant serves all four cities in addition to the western part of Exelon's service area.

Quad Cities, Unit 1

Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon

Quad Cities, Unit 2

Nuclear Steam System Supplier (NSSS Vendor) = General Electric
Architect Engineer = Sargent & Lundy
Owner = Exelon
Operator (Licensee) = Exelon


2Nuclear Power Plant Construction Activity, DOE/EIA-0473(86), Energy Information Administration, 1986, pp 16-17, Table 5. Adjusted to 2007 Dollars using Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index.

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