Democratic State Rep. Tony McCombie, author of a bill to lift Illinois’ 35-year ban on nuclear power plant construction, has announced his intention to launch a veto-override fight when the legislature reconvenes in October. McCombie’s original bill, passed by veto-proof margins in both the General Assembly and Senate earlier this year, was vetoed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday, Aug. 11. McCombie represents the district in northern Illinois where the Byron nuclear power plant is located.
Announcing his plans in a letter to the editor of the DeKalb Daily Chronicle, and newspapers Carroll County on Aug 23, McCombie wrote, “The fight to provide low-cost, reliable clean energy to Illinois families by growing our nuclear energy industry hit a roadblock this month as Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed a bill I co-sponsored that would lift the state’s ban on building advanced, small modular nuclear reactors. This was a major disappointment, as Senate Bill 76 passed with overwhelming bipartisan majorities this spring….
“We know that wind and solar alone do not have the infrastructure or technology to provide our state with the reliable, affordable, and efficient energy it needs…. I will support a motion to override the Governor’s short-sighted veto when the Illinois House of Representatives returns to Springfield for our Fall Veto Session in October. We must act to lift the ban on expanding Illinois’ safe, reliable nuclear industry and protect the existing jobs that are vital to our community and the entire Northwest Illinois region.” (https://www.mycarrollcountynews.com/opinion/article_de49a288-41c1-11ee-88cb-3b2c380726e3.html#:~:text=)
As yet, the bill’s companion sponsor in the Illinois State Senate, Republican Sue Rezin, has not announced her intentions.