Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Clinton Power Station
open-in-new
<p>The Clinton Power Station is a <a href="/facts/Nuclear_power_plant/IJj5pJUn">nuclear power plant</a> located near <a href="/facts/Clinton%2c_Illinois/TIIbK2oy">Clinton, Illinois</a>, USA. The power station began commercial operation on November 24, 1987 and has a nominal net electric output of 1062 MWe. Due to inflation and cost overruns, Clinton's final construction cost was $4.25 billion ($11.8 billion today), nearly 1,000% over the original budget of $430 million and seven years behind schedule. </p><p>The station has a single <a href="/facts/Generation_II_reactor/GmcWJqKz">generation II</a> <a href="/facts/General_Electric/bBm5CzVY">General Electric</a> <a href="/facts/Boiling_Water_Reactor/nc0lJKTS">Boiling Water Reactor</a>. The present reactor operating license was issued April 17, 1987, and will expire September 29, 2026. Plans for a second reactor were shelved. Exelon, the former owner and operator of the present reactor, announced plans to permanently close the power station in June 2017, due to the plants struggles to compete economically in wholesale markets, resulting in a loss of millions of dollars in recent years. The plans for closure were canceled, however, when the Illinois State Legislature passed and the Illinois Governor signed SB 2814, The Future Energy Jobs Bill. The legislation provides Zero Emission Credits for the plants' CO2-free electricity. The consequences of continued operation include saving 4,200 jobs and the annual generation of 22 billion kWhs of CO2-free energy. </p><p>The surrounding 14,300 acres (58 km2) site and adjacent 5,000 acres (20 km2) cooling reservoir, <a href="/facts/Clinton_Lake_(Illinois)/QFKvQbWI">Clinton Lake</a>, is owned by the operator, but hosts the <a href="/facts/Clinton_Lake_(Illinois)/QFKvQbWI">Clinton Lake State Recreation Area</a> and is open to public for a large range of outdoor activities. Only around 150 acres (0.6 km2) are actually used by the plant's buildings and operation areas. </p>