Zion Gets First Glimpse of Decommissioning Plan

By Shawn Allee
Zion Gets First Glimpse of Decommissioning Plan
The Zion nuclear powers station sits along the shore of Lake Michigan (Photo Courtesy of Exelon)
Zion Gets First Glimpse of Decommissioning Plan
The Zion nuclear powers station sits along the shore of Lake Michigan (Photo Courtesy of Exelon)

Zion Gets First Glimpse of Decommissioning Plan

By Shawn Allee
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Exelon wants to tear down its Zion nuclear power station; but at a public forum last night, Zion residents peppered company executives with questions about the plan.

Exelon wants to outsource Zion’s decommissioning. That would save a hundred million dollars but it would leave nuclear fuel in storage very close to Lake Michigan.

Zion resident Chad Anderson wants Exelon to find alternatives.

ANDERSON: Why won’t they consider putting the spent fuel rods into one of their other operating facilities? Because if they moved it to another plant they have, it would be a solution to an Illinois problem the corporation has started.

Exelon says it looked at moving the fuel, but fears it would be a slow and expensive procedure.

I’m Shawn Allee, Chicago Public Radio.



Interviews with:

A Zion Resident
An Exelon Executive
A Federal Regulator
An Environmental Activist
A Zion Town Official