Constellation invests US$800mn in 135 MW nuclear power plants in Illinois

Constellation has announced an investment of US$800 million to increase the output of its Braidwood and Byron Generating Stations in Illinois by approximately 135 MW. This additional always-on, carbon-free power will be enough to power the equivalent of 100,000 average homes around the clock every year and will result in the equivalent of removing 171,000 gas-powered vehicles from the road annually.

The projects involve replacing the main turbines at the two facilities with new, high-efficiency units. The expected increased output of the stations is expected to be available by 2026, with the full uprated output available by 2029.

The Braidwood and Byron projects were enabled by the passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021, as well as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) last year, which provided a base level of support for nuclear energy nationwide. This has allowed for renewed investment in nuclear energy and has enabled the Braidwood and Byron projects to take place.