Constellation’s agreement with Meta allays concerns that Clinton would have to close after the expiration of Illinois’s ratepayer-funded Zero Emission Credit (ZEC) program, which is providing financial support for the plant through mid-2027. The Constellation-Meta agreement, according to the utility, is “a market-based solution that essentially replaces the ZEC program and ensures long-term operations of the plant without ratepayer support.”
Uprates and SMR: With the future of Clinton made secure through the new agreement, Constellation is planning additional nuclear capacity at the site, including uprates to boost its energy output by 30 megawatts and the possible construction of a small modular reactor or other advanced reactor.
CCEC facts: Clinton, characterized by its sky-blue reactor building, has one General Electric boiling water reactor capable of producing 1,092 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 800,000 homes. The reactor entered commercial service in September 1987 and is currently licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate until April 2027. Relicensing will keep the plant operating through 2046.
The 14,300-acre Clinton site has a recreational cooling lake that covers 5,000 acres and is used by the public for a wide range of activities. The facility has about 530 employees and generates millions of dollars for the local economy, including about $13.5 million in annual taxes for schools, roads, and other public services.
Constellation intends to invest $1 million over the next five years to support local workforce development, social services, education, and nonprofit organizations in Clinton and surrounding communities.
AI ambitions: Urvi Parekh, head of global energy at Meta, commented on the agreement with Constellation: “We are excited to partner with Constellation and the Clinton community to ensure the long-term operations of the nuclear plant, add new capacity, and help preserve over 1,000 jobs. Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions. We are proud to help keep the Clinton plant operating for years to come and demonstrate that this plant is an important piece to strengthening American leadership in energy.”
