U.S. carbon-free energy producer Constellation plans to invest $800 million in new equipment to boost the output of its nuclear power plants in Byron and Braidwood in Illinois.
The upgrade is expected to increase the output of the two stations by about 135 MW, which is enough to power 100,000 average homes around the clock every year.
The project will involve replacing the main turbines at the two facilities with high-efficiency units. The company expects to see enhanced output at the stations by 2026, with the full uprated output available by 2029. Work on the uprates will be carried out in stages during scheduled refueling outages.
According to Environmental Protection Agency data, the additional power generated is equivalent to removing 171,000 gas-powered vehicles from the road per year or adding 216 intermittent wind turbines to the grid.
During construction, the project is expected to create job opportunities for thousands of skilled union workers while expanding economic activity in the plant communities. The additional jobs will add to the current workforce of 1,200 permanent employees at the two plants.
Byron and Braidwood were among the Illinois nuclear plants that were saved from premature retirement by the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Congress last year, provides a base level of support for nuclear energy nationwide, making the extension of the lives of U.S. nuclear assets to 80 years more likely. (Read more of story after links)
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Constellation notes that the 45-year tax credit for the production of new carbon-free electricity helps make these investments economic.
“These investments in our world-class nuclear fleet will allow us to generate more zero-carbon energy with the same amount of fuel and land, and that’s a win for the economy, the environment and Illinois families and businesses who rely on our clean energy,” said Joe Dominguez, President and CEO of Constellation. “These projects will help create family-sustaining jobs and are a direct result of state and federal policies that recognize the incredible value of nuclear energy in addressing the climate crisis while keeping our grid secure and reliable.”
Constellation recently announced significant progress at its clean hydrogen project at Nine Mile Point Generating Station in upstate New York. It also revealed the start of work on operating license renewals at the Dresden and Clinton nuclear plants in Illinois.
“It is gratifying to see new long-term projects at our nuclear facilities getting the green light,” said Dave Rhoades, Chief Nuclear Officer, Constellation. “This is an exciting time for our industry as we continue our investment in the future of our plants.”
Nuclear power plants currently generate nearly 20 percent of the U.S. electricity mix. Those reactor facilities also produce more than half of the nation's carbon-free electricity.
