The Zion Nuclear Generating Station will soon be no more…well, in relative terms.   The process to decommission the facility is officially underway with Exelon officials filing a former petition with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on February 7th, 2008. 

In December, Exelon announced that it had contracted with EnergySolutions to dismantle the power plant.  The agreement calls for the station’s license and decommissioning funds to be transferred to Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions, which would remove all of the structures, components and debris and return the site close to its original state as a lakefront prairie. 

The project is expected to be completed in 2018, which is nearly a decade ahead
of earlier projections.  Originally plans called for decommissioning in the mid 2020s
to 2030s and possibly as late as 2058, so in relative terms, this is an accelerated timeline.  The earlier schedule is possible because EnergySolutions has the capability to plan and manage the decommissioning and dispose of all material at a lower cost since they own and maintain a low-level waste facility in Clive, Utah.

Naturally, the NRC must approve the arrangement and the parities are also seeking
a favorable ruling from the IRS about the transfer of tax-qualified decommissioning funds. No issues are expected to delay the approvals and the city intends to work closely with Exelon, ComEd and EnergySolutions to determine the disposal of the 257 acres along the Lake Michigan shoreline.  This is an opportunity for Zion to reclaim its identity as a lake front community and offers a very exciting stage for our continued economic recovery.

At the height of this process the company may employ as many as 450 contractors, many will be solicited from the local area.  These workers will bring new spending revenue into the city, particularly the downtown area.   The redevelopment of the land once the plant is completed removed will certainly be another opportunity for employment depending on the final determination of what is in the best interest of the city.  Plans may involve residential, recreations, entertainment or business uses and certainly all plans will maximize its proximity to the state parks, Metra and our historic downtown business district.

For more information on this project consider attending a public meeting hosted by Exelon on March 6th, 2008.  A presentation will be given and Exelon officials will be on hand to answer any questions.  The event will be held at Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course Club House, located at 351 N. Greenbay Road in Zion from 4:00-8:00 p.m.