Exelon Announces Outcome of 2019-2020 PJM Capacity Auction
Quad Cities and Three Mile Island nuclear plants did not clear in auction; policy solutions essential to preserving zero-carbon nuclear energy
HICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Exelon Corporation today announced that its Quad Cities and Three Mile Island nuclear plants did not clear in the PJM capacity auction for the 2019-2020 planning year and will not receive capacity revenue for that period. While a portion of the Byron nuclear plant’s capacity did not clear in the auction, the plant is committed to operate through May 2020. The company’s other nuclear plants in PJM cleared in the auction, except Oyster Creek, which is scheduled to retire in 2019 and did not participate in the auction. The auction results take effect June 2019.
“The capacity market alone can’t preserve zero-carbon emitting nuclear plants that are facing the lowest wholesale energy prices in 15 years,” said Chris Crane, president and CEO of Exelon. “Without passage of comprehensive energy legislation that recognizes nuclear energy for its economic, reliability and environmental benefits to Illinois, we will be forced to close Quad Cities and Clinton, resulting in the loss of jobs and economic activity, higher energy prices for consumers, and a dramatic increase in carbon emissions that will make it harder and more expensive for Illinois to meet its clean energy goals.”
Earlier this month, Exelon announced that it would retire its Quad Cities and Clinton nuclear facilities if adequate legislation is not passed during the spring Illinois legislative session scheduled to end May 31. Quad Cities and Clinton have lost a combined $800 million in the past seven years, despite being two of Exelon’s highest-performing plants.
Clinton operates in the MISO market. Despite clearing in MISO’s recent one-year forward capacity auction, Clinton will not receive enough revenue to avoid continued losses. The Next Generation Energy Plan legislation would preserve the two at-risk Illinois nuclear plants and their zero-emissions benefits, as well as strengthen the economy and promote development of clean energy in the state.
The NGEP includes implementation of a zero emission standard that would specifically target at-risk nuclear plants, making Illinois one of the first states to recognize the zero-carbon benefits of nuclear energy. The legislation — which has strong bipartisan, community and labor support – would nearly double energy efficiency programs and jumpstart solar development with rebates and $140 million per year in new funding.
The legislation would preserve more than $1.2 billion in economic activity and 4,200 direct and indirect jobs associated with Quad Cities and Clinton. Without it, consumers will pay more for electricity. A study commissioned by the state found that shuttering the two plants would cause wholesale energy prices to rise by $439 million to $645 million annually for homes and businesses in the region.
Preserving Illinois’ nuclear facilities also is essential to maintaining the state’s role as a clean-energy leader. The early retirement of Quad Cities and Clinton would increase carbon emissions by more than 20 million metric tons – the equivalent of putting more than 4 million cars on the road. The societal costs of the increased emissions would reach nearly $10 billion between 2020 and 2029, the state report concluded.
This is the second consecutive year that Three Mile Island Unit 1 failed to clear the PJM capacity auction. Although the plant is committed to operate through May 2018, the plant faces continued economic challenges and Exelon is exploring all options to return it to profitability.
