A company spokesman said a 'capacity auction' in Clinton's territory did help reduce financial losses, but is still at risk of closing. But a group opposed to a legislative solution believes an auction next spring should be enough to help the plant.
The "transition" auction revises a previous capacity auction for the generating year starting next June. But Exelon says the additional revenue will not help its money-losing Byron and Quad Cities nuclear plants.
Exelon's unprofitable Quad Cities nuclear power plant failed to clear in the annual capacity auction held last week by the regional power grid PJM.
Exelon still has hopes for the legislation, once lawmakers are done dealing with the state budget. And whether or not it passes could have in impact on the price of electricity in Illinois, and the fate of its three nuclear plants in Clinton, Byron and Quad Cities, which are losing money.
Legislation to help Exelon with the Clinton nuclear power plant and two others it says are losing money, apparently will not be passed during the Illinois General Assembly's spring session. House Energy Committee Chair Linda Chapa LaVia says she wants to combine the legislation with two other energy-related bills, which would take more time.
