Ferom State Senator Chris Balkema:
Walmart Invests in Illinois Nuclear Energy
Walmart recently announced a long-term agreement to purchase nuclear power from Constellation Energy’s Dresden Clean Energy Center in Morris, Illinois.
The 15-year agreement will help power Walmart’s new high-tech distribution center currently under development in Belvidere.
The deal marks Walmart’s first-ever nuclear power purchase agreement and is among the first of its kind between a major U.S. retailer and a nuclear energy facility.
The agreement will also support upgrades at the Dresden plant, increasing its energy output without requiring new generation facilities.
This announcement highlights Illinois’ important role in America’s energy future.
As demand for reliable, around-the-clock electricity continues to grow, investments in existing energy infrastructure can help support jobs, economic development, and long-term energy reliability across our state.
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Now, butt that up against this post from capitol Fax:
Financial Times | Utility boss warns US faces blackouts due to power supply shortfall:
Calvin Butler, chief executive of Exelon, the largest US utility by customer count, told the FT that Americans could “absolutely” lose power next year, due to a shortage of power plants in the north-east and Midwest.
“We came very close, this past winter, to having to curtail power for about 400,000 customers on some of the coldest days of the year,” he said. “And it’s only getting worse.”
