By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current

BYRON — More than $140 million in capital improvements will be made at the Byron Generating Station after lawmakers passed sweeping energy legislation last month.

Exelon Generation is working to fill 650 vacant positions across Illinois and will spend more than $300 million on capital projects at its Byron and Dresden plants over the next five years, the company said.

The energy overhaul legislation, which is designed to address climate change and establish progressive energy standards, also provided $694 million over five years to subsidize nuclear plants owned by Exelon. Without the legislation, the company had vowed to shutter its Byron and Dresden plants.

“With this landmark legislation in place, we are moving quickly to restaff and refuel all of our nuclear plants for 24/7 operation, producing carbon-free, baseload electricity for more than 10 million homes and businesses,” Dave Rhoades, Exelon Generation’s chief nuclear officer, said in a news release. “These plants are not only important for the clean energy they produce, but they are massive economic engines for their local communities, contributing more than $1.6 billion to Illinois’ GDP each year.”

Related: From sleepless nights to heartfelt thanks, Byron nuclear plant employees describe life with their jobs on the line

Saving the two plants from closure preserves two-thirds of the state’s clean energy, avoids a 70% rise in emissions and protects 28,000 jobs, according to Exelon. The company said it also prevents a $480 million increase in annual energy prices for consumers.

Improvements planned at Byron involve overhauling a main generator, replacing large transformers, upgrading a fiber optic control system and replacing various pumps, motors and piping in the plant. Most of the work will be done during refueling outages starting next year and bring more than 1,500 electricians, pipe fitters, welders, carpenters and other tradespeople to Byron, according to the company.

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“We’re incredibly pleased to see all the union contract workers at Byron Station helping the full-time employees refuel Unit 1,” Byron Mayor John Rickard said in a news release. “It would have been terrible for the environment and devastating for our community had the plant been allowed to shut down. We’re relieved the plant gets to continue supporting our community with jobs, philanthropy and tax funding for our schools and essential services, while producing clean energy at a time when clean energy is needed more than ever.”

Nearly $170 million in improvements will be made at Dresden in the next five years, including upgrades to six feedwater heat exchange vessels, significant refurbishment of a main generator, electrical component overhauls, replacement of closed cooling piping and revamping nuclear instrumentation circuit components, the company said in a news release.

“Exelon refueling outages put thousands of people to work in Illinois, providing jobs to skilled local and regional union and tradespeople,” said Terry McGoldrick, president and business manager of IBEW Local 15. “Keeping these plants open was the right decision, and I’m pleased the General Assembly made this investment in the future of our workforce, our communities and our nuclear plants.”

Byron and Dresden will soon begin multiple new training classes for future employees.  Those interested in applying can visit the jobs page on Exeloncorp.com and search for nuclear.

Exelon’s nuclear fleet in Illinois consists of Braidwood Generating Station in Will County, Byron Generating Station in Ogle County, Clinton Power Station in DeWitt County, Dresden Generating Station in Grundy County, LaSalle County Generating Station and Quad Cities Generating Station in Rock Island County.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.

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