(WSIL) -- Republican lawmakers hope reverse a veto that prevents Illinois from going back on a moratorium that bans the construction of nuclear facilities.
The bill, vetoed last spring by Gov. JB Pritzker, would lift a 30-year ban on building nuclear sites in the state. This week Republicans filed a new bill to change the language in the previous bill.
The new bill would narrow the definition of new nuclear projects to exclude large-scale reactors. Gov. Pritzker raised concerns about the cost of the project.
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) says her bill would focus on small modular reactors. Rezin says the rising technology will help the state meet it's 100% clean energy goal by 2050. Rezin adds that nuclear energy will help manufacturing.
"They need high intensity power and that's what nuclear provides," Rezin said.
Rezin says it takes about six to eight years to get a permit to build a nuclear site. Lawmakers have until Thursday to bring the new bill up for a vote.
States have been relaxing bans on constructing new nuclear sites the last few years. Illinois' neighbor to the south, Kentucky, lifted its ban in 2017.
"Nuclear as we all know runs 24/7, 365 days, a week rain or shine. Nuclear is the clean energy and affordable energy to power America's future," Rezin said.
