Illinois lawmakers wrapped up their budget business this week, successfully passing a $42 billion dollar plan for the coming year. But talks surrounding a nuclear bailout continue.
Pritzker says the state’s negotiations with Exelon, the state’s largest nuclear station operator, are still underway.
“What I can tell you is that that deal will help keep all of the nuclear plants open,” said Pritzker, “Which helps us with our clean energy plans for the future.”
Exelon announced plans last fall to shutter the Byron and Dresden power plants if the state failed to deliver subsidies.
As part of the federal probe into ComEd, a subsidiary of Exelon, prosecutors announced last week charges related to perjury and obstruction of justice against Tim Mapes. Mapes is a former executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois and was chief of staff to Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan.
The Governor says he hopes to wrap up talks with the energy giant as soon as possible -- and he remains hopeful an agreement can be reached.
- Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco is a current corps member for Report for America, an initiative of the GroundTruth Project which is a national service program that places talented journalists in local newsrooms.
