As of 2019, there are 11 nuclear power plants operating in the state of Illinois. These nuclear power plants are capable of producing a total of 12,238 megawatts of electricity. Exelon Nuclear owns and operates 10 of the nuclear power plants in the state while CISTI-Nuveen operates the remaining one.
The locations include the Braidwood Generating Station in Braceville, Byron Generating Station in Byron, Clinton Power Station in Clinton, Dresden Generating Station in Morris, LaSalle County Generating Station in Marseilles, Quad Cities Generating Station in Cordova, Six Mile Generating Station in Clinton, and the Zion Generating Station in Zion.
Collectively, these power plants account for more than 11 percent of the total electricity production in Illinois.
Where are the 11 nuclear power plants Illinois?
There are 11 nuclear power plants located within the state of Illinois. These plants are operated by Exelon Power and include: Braidwood Station in Braceville; Byron Generating Station in Byron; Clinton Power Station in Clinton; Dresden Generating Station in Morris; LaSalle County Generating Station in Marseilles; Quad Cities Generating Station in Cordova; Fulton Station in Fulton; Plant O John E.
Rankin in Meredosia; Zion Nuclear Power Station in Zion; Clinton County Power Station in Carlyle; and the newest plant, the Dresden Unit 3 in Morris. Each plant serves an area of hundreds of miles and provides energy to numerous states.
Does Illinois have the most nuclear power plants?
No, Illinois does not have the most nuclear power plants in the United States. According to the U. S. Energy Information Administration, there are currently 61 operational nuclear power plants in the United States.
Of those plants, Illinois is currently fifth place with 11 nuclear power plants. The state with the most nuclear power plants is currently Tennessee with 12 operating plants. Other states with higher numbers than Illinois include Ohio with 14, and Pennsylvania and South Carolina, both with 10 plants.
All 60 operating plants produce nearly 20 percent of the country’s energy, with Illinois responsible for 6. 7 percent of total nuclear power production. Nationwide, there are 99 nuclear reactors in operation, located in 30 different states.
What state has the most nuke plants?
The state with the most nuclear power plants is currently Illinois, with 11 operating plants. This is followed by Pennsylvania, with 9 operating plants, and Ohio, with 8 plants. Together, these three states account for more than a quarter of all nuclear power plants in the United States.
Other states with substantial nuclear power presence include South Carolina, Florida, New York, and New Jersey.
Where is the largest nuclear reactor in the US?
The largest nuclear reactor in the United States is located at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. It is one of the largest nuclear power plants in the world and was built in 1986 by Arizona Public Service Company.
The reactor consists of three pressurized water reactors and has a combined capacity of 3,936 megawatts (MW), making it the largest single nuclear reactor in the United States. It is located about 55 miles west of Phoenix.
The reactor provides a reliable, carbon-free source of electrical power to approximately 4 million people in Arizona and other parts of the Southwest United States.
What state has the highest percentage of nuclear power?
The state with the highest percentage of nuclear power generation is Illinois. According to the U. S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), during 2019 approximately 48. 6 percent of the electricity produced in Illinois came from nuclear power.
This was the highest rate of nuclear power generation among all states.
This is quite a large advantage compared to other states, with the second highest nuclear power generation rate being in South Carolina at 33. 3 percent. Following these two are Tennessee at 32. 7 percent, New York at 30.
7 percent, and Vermont at 30. 5 percent. California, which has the most nuclear power plants, produces only 11 percent of its electricity from nuclear power.
It’s interesting to note that although Illinois has the highest rate of nuclear power generation, it actually has the second fewest number of operating nuclear power plants – 6 reactors, behind only Pennsylvania with five.
The nuclear reactors currently in operation in Illinois include the Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, and Quad Cities plants.
Nuclear power provides numerous benefits to the citizens of Illinois. It supplies reliable, clean energy and is responsible for thousands of jobs and community investment dollars. Nuclear energy is also an important part of Illinois’ effort to lead the nation in clean energy production and reduce its carbon footprint, making it an invaluable resource for the state.
What percent of Illinois power is nuclear?
Approximately 56. 9% of Illinois power is generated by nuclear energy, according to the United States Energy Information Administration. This means that nuclear energy is the most used source of electricity in the state of Illinois.
It is followed by natural gas (20. 2%), coal (17. 7%), wind (4. 1%), hydroelectricity (1. 2%) and other sources (0. 1%). Nuclear energy is the only main source of electricity generation in Illinois that does not emit carbon dioxide, making it an important part of combatting climate change.
In addition to its environmental benefits, nuclear energy is also incredibly reliable. As of June 2021, there are 11 operating commercial nuclear power plants in Illinois, which provide enough electricity to power over 6.
6 million homes.
What is Illinois largest source of electricity?
Illinois’ largest source of electricity generation is nuclear power. In 2018, nuclear power accounted for nearly half (46. 2%) of the state’s electricity production, making it the single largest source of electricity generation in the state.
This is followed by natural gas (30. 1%), coal (16. 1%), wind (7. 0%), hydroelectric (0. 3%) and biomass (0. 1%). While the use of coal has been in decline since 1999, nuclear power has been the steadiest source of electricity in the state.
This is largely due to the fact that six major nuclear facilities are located in Illinois, more than in any other state. These facilities together have a total installed capacity of more than 11,000 Megawatts (MW), providing enough electricity to power about 11 million homes in the state.
How much of Illinois electricity is coal?
Approximately 47. 9% of electricity in Illinois is generated by burning coal. According to the U. S. Energy Information Administration, Illinois produced 32,624 thousand megawatt-hours of electricity from coal in 2018.
This accounted for nearly half of all electricity production in the state. Nuclear energy was the second-largest source of electricity in the state, accounting for 38. 5% of electricity generation. Natural gas was the third-largest, accounting for 12.
7% of electricity generation. Renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind, and solar accounted for a combined 0. 8%.
The majority of Illinois’ coal-fired plants are located in the southern part of the state along the Mississippi River. In 2012, Illinois had 59 plants burning over 111. 1 million short tons of coal. The plants have a combined generating capacity of over 20,000 megawatts.
Overall, coal remains a major source of electricity in Illinois and is an important part of the state’s energy portfolio. However, the use of coal for electricity generation has been declining in the state due to increasing economic pressures and environmental concerns.
In the coming years, renewable energy is expected to take a larger share of electricity production in the state.
Are there still coal mines in Illinois?
Yes, there are still coal mines in Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, there are currently eight active coal mines in the state, primarily located in the southern portion of the state.
The total output of these mines is estimated to be almost 17 million tons of coal each year. These mines are important for providing jobs for the local economy and for supplying coal to electric utilities throughout Illinois.
How much of Illinois is powered by windmills?
Illinois currently gets approximately 8% of its electricity from wind energy, with a total of 2,517,174 MWh of electricity produced from wind turbines in 2018, according to the U. S. Energy Information Administration.
Illinois currently ranks 8th in the nation for electricity production from wind energy. Wind turbines in Illinois provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of nearly 1 million homes. The state has a target of 25% electricity from renewable sources by 2025, including wind power as well as other forms of renewable energy like solar, hydropower and geothermal.
With investment in new turbines, Illinois could have even more wind power in the future.
Who generates electricity in Illinois?
In Illinois, electricity is generated by a variety of sources. These can include nuclear, coal, natural gas, solar, wind, and hydropower sources. Coal-fired plants currently generate approximately 56% of all electricity generated in the state, followed by nuclear plants at 35%, natural gas at 7%, and hydropower and other renewable sources at the remaining 2%.
Solar and wind energy are both growing rapidly in the state and their contribution to the electricity supply continues to increase. For example, the state installed more than 8,000 megawatts of solar and wind capacity during 2017, more than any other Midwest state.
Who owns Comanche Peak power plant?
The Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant is owned by Texas-based Luminant, a part of Vistra Energy. After it was built in 1978 and 1985, Comanche Peak’s two pressurized water reactors are located near Glen Rose, Texas, and have a rated capacity of approximately 2,300 megawatts.
Among numerous accolades, Comanche Peak was named the winner of NRC’s 2018 and 2020 Safety Excellence Award for their consistent steam generator performance and excellent radiological protection record.
Luminant also remains deeply committed to providing innovative, safe, and reliable power for its customers. To ensure the highest standards of safety and reliability, the Comanche Peak team continually invests in rigorous, comprehensive training, plant maintenance, safety and environmental protection programs, and ongoing performance monitoring.
An enduring feature of Luminant’s commitment to Texas is the investment it has made in the state’s nuclear energy industry, where Comanche Peak has been a major source of clean, reliable, and affordable power for more than two decades.
This nuclear power plant has provided some of the most reliable and cost-effective electricity to residents throughout the state.