NEIS CONTINUES THE FIGHT AGAINST NEW ILLINOIS REACTORS!

Urge elected officials to oppose SB1527, SB1538, HB3604, HB3603,

which would repeal our remaining nuclear construction moratorium

Greetings All –

They’re baaaaaccckkk!!!!!!!! Nuclear advocates want MORE reactors in Illinois!!

Bills in the Illinois House and Senate would repeal the remaining moratorium on construction of LARGE and so-called ADVANCED nuclear power plants; and redefine small modular nuclear reactors (SMNRs) as “renewable energy.”  Repealing the moratorium (SB1527) does nothing to dispose of the 11,000+ tons of high-level radioactive wastes (HLRW) in Illinois – but would create more.  Defining nuclear reactors as “renewable energy” (SB1538) is language straight out of Orwell’s “1984,” but would make SMNRs eligible for access to genuine renewables funding and transmission access over real RENEWABLE energy sources.

More reactors threaten the CEJA the renewable energy goals; and create further bottlenecks constricting renewables access to the already overcrowded and antiquated transmission grid.  And of course – these reactors would ultimately be paid for by YOU, the ratepayer and taxpayer, through rate hikes and subsidies.

It gets worse. Last Friday the Trump Administration signed Executive Orders which effectively gut the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, making present and future reactors unsafe.  UCS scientist Dr. Ed Lyman stated, “the Trump administration is virtually guaranteeing that this country will see a serious accident or other radiological release that will affect the health, safety, and livelihoods of millions.” 

Rumor has it that the Repeal bills may be packaged into a larger energy omnibus bill, containing provisions that the Illinois environmental community wants and states it will support.  This would be disastrous – a backdoor way of gaining by foul what the nuke folks can’t gain by fair.

So once again, it’s up to us – you and NEIS – to stop this nuclear juggernaut.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO STOP THE PRO-NUCLEAR FORCES FROM SABOTAGING RENEWABLES AND INCREASING THE RADWASTE HAZARD!

THE MESSAGE FOR YOUR OFFICIALS AND ENVIRO COLLEAGUES:

1. If SB1527 or HB3604 (and other nuclear related bills like HB3603 and HB1538) come up for a stand-alone floor vote, they should be opposed.
2. If these bills are combined with or subsumed by larger omnibus legislation, they should be removed.
3. If these bills should pass, and the moratorium is repealed, we call for the creation of a “citizens nuclear oversight panel,” using as an initial template HB5630 from the 2024 Legislative session, introduced by Rep. Lilian Jimenez.

Safe-energy and environmental activists need to contact your rep and senator, and call on them to oppose these pro-nuclear plans!

WHAT YOU CAN DO: SESSION ENDS SATURDAY MAY 31. ACT NOW!!

• Contact your state Rep and Senator , using the messages above. Find yours and get contact info by clicking this link, and following the instructions.  Be polite, but assertive:  Let them know that Illinois’ energy future is extremely important  to you, and that you don’t want nuclear to be a part of it.
• Deluge Governor Pritzker’s Comments page on his website, or send a letter to him in Springfield and Chicago, letting him know that you do not want more nuclear plants in Illinois’ energy future; and to support the CEJA goals of more renewables, efficiency, energy storage and improved transmission instead.

Ph: 217-782-6830 or 217-782-6831     Chicago: Phone: 312-814-2121 or 312-814-2122

Even if you’ve done this previously, do it all again!  Visit the NEIS website for more details, NEIS’ testimony, and arguments against the Moratorium repeal and SMNRs.  Share this with friends and family, and ask them to act too.

The Legislative Session is scheduled to end Saturday, May 31.  Quite literally, your actions will determine whether the energy future of Illinois will be nuclear or renewable.

Thanks in advance for your efforts.  Be well, keep on doing!