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Local Leaders Express Concerns Over Loss of Clinton Power Plant

The process of retiring the Exelon Clinton Nuclear Power Plant will begin as soon as next week when around 100 workers will be laid off.

 

Thursday afternoon, local leaders joined state lawmakers representing Clinton and DeWitt County in reacting to the announcement by Exelon they retire the plant early.

 

In DeWitt County, perhaps no entity benefits more directly from the plant than the Clinton School District and Superintendent Curt Nettles indicates around $8-million of their budget comes from Exelon's taxes. Nettles says what compounds the problem is Clinton schools would then become reliant on the unreliable general state aid from Springfield.

 

 

Clinton Mayor Roger Cyrulik says it's uncertain the immediate impacts the closure of the power plant would be on the community. He says this will be one more thing the city will have to deal with when budgeting, just like every other entity.

 

 

Mad is how DeWitt County Board Chair David Newberg described his emotions Thursday morning when the announcement was made. He feels DeWitt County has been singled out.

 

 

Dan Ballenger is the Commissioner of Public Health and Safety on the Clinton City Council. He explains Clinton will see a reduction in patrols as a result of the Exelon closure.

 

 

Via Facebook Wednesday, the Clinton Chamber released the following statement:

 

"The Clinton Chamber of Commerce will continue supporting the efforts to keep Clinton Power Station open. We would urge our lawmakers to realize the seriousness of this issue and the devastating impact of the possible premature closure of CPS. Please pass this bill."

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