Illinois Nuclear Plants Operate at Full Power During Record-Breaking Polar Vortex
Despite record cold, all six Exelon Generation Illinois nuclear
plants provided around-the-clock, carbon-free electricity for 11 million
homes and businesses
While arctic winds sent temperatures plunging dangerously and
electricity demand soaring this week, Exelon Generation's six Illinois
nuclear plants operated at full power, producing enough carbon-free
electricity to keep 11 million homes, businesses, schools and hospitals
safe and warm.
"Our nuclear facilities are among the safest and most reliable power
plants in the country, and we are dedicated to being online when
customers need us most, even in the most frigid weather conditions,”
said Exelon’s Chief Nuclear Officer Bryan Hanson. "Thank you to our more
than 5,600 full-time Illinois nuclear employees for braving the freezing
cold to keep our fleet operating effectively. We are fortunate in
Illinois that we don’t have to choose between clean energy and
reliability -- our six well-run nuclear facilities deliver both.”
Exelon Generation's Illinois nuclear fleet recorded a near-perfect
reliability rate last winter as well, operating 97.6 percent of the
time, one of many indicators that industry experts use to rate
efficiency and performance. During the 2014 Polar Vortex, Exelon
Generation’s nuclear fleet was critical to meeting electricity demand,
as coal piles froze, and natural gas supplies were re-routed for home
heating.
Winter resiliency and reliability requires year-long planning,
preparation and maintenance. Exelon Generation workers spend months
ensuring that backup generators and spare equipment is ready for
inclement weather. This fall, operators and maintenance personnel
inspected freeze protection systems, tested electrical equipment, and
properly aligned plant systems to prepare all Exelon Generation
facilities for sub-zero temperatures, icy conditions and heavy snowfall.
These efforts are in addition to the many equipment upgrades and "winter
readiness" maintenance activities performed during refueling outages.
Exelon Generation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), is
one of the largest, most efficient clean energy producers in the U.S.,
with a generating capacity of more than 32,000 megawatts. Exelon
Generation operates the largest U.S. fleet of carbon-free nuclear plants
with more than 19,600 megawatts of capacity from 22 reactors at 13
facilities in Illinois, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania. Exelon
Generation also operates a diverse mix of wind, solar, landfill gas,
hydroelectric, natural gas and oil facilities in 19 states with more
than 12,400 megawatts. Exelon Generation has an industry-leading safety
record and is an active partner and economic engine in the communities
it serves by providing jobs, charitable contributions and tax payments
that help towns and regions grow. Follow Exelon Generation on Twitter @ExelonGen,
view the Exelon
Generation YouTube channel, and visit http://www.exeloncorp.com/companies/exelon-generation.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190201005399/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2019
Source: Business Wire
(February 1, 2019 - 11:49 AM EST)
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