South Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) said the end of the veto session on Nov. 9 will be the last chance this year for Illinoisans to allow the General Assembly to lift a ban on small nuclear reactors. Such reactors are widely recognized as being a solution to low-cost, zero-emission energy production.

“The Illinois House returns for the second week of the fall veto session today. It is our final chance to act on the major issues facing our state before the end of the year, including ending the moratorium on new nuclear construction in Illinois,” Wilhour said on Facebook.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker vetoed legislation aimed at lifting the state’s 30-year moratorium on new nuclear power plants following the regular legislative session, according to Energy News. The legislation, which would have allowed advanced nuclear reactors such as Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs), had bipartisan support in May but faced opposition from anti-nuclear activists and clean energy groups.

"In order to decarbonize and reach our goals of reducing our carbon by 2050, we need to pave way for new nuclear,” State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said in a letter regarding this matter. “We have a reliability problem in Southern Illinois that needs resolution, and new nuclear is answer to help us begin creating reliable energy that generates consistently throughout all seasons."

Interestingly, the first human-created nuclear reactor was constructed under a squash court at the University of Chicago's football stadium — named “Chicago Pile-1.” This development initiated events that reshaped global politics, led to nuclear energy production, opened up new realms for scientific inquiry, and influenced key aspects of modern society like weaponry and medicine.