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Clinton Clean Energy Center

Clinton, Ill.

An aerial photo of Clinton Power Station, a nuclear power plant

  • Number of operating units: 1
  • Site net generation: 1,069 net MW
  • Customers served: More than 1 million homes
  • Location: Rural Harp Township, DeWitt County, Ill. Approximately 20 miles north of Decatur, Ill.
  • Number of Employees: 686
  • Annual Payroll: $63 million

Clinton Clean Energy Center can generate nearly 1,069 net megawatts, enough electricity to power about 1 million average American homes. The 5,000-acre cooling lake is formed by a dam built at the convergence of Salt Creek and the North Fork of Salt Creek. Clinton Power Station began operating on April 24, 1987, and reached 100% capacity on Sept. 15, 1987.

Economic Impact

Illinois’ nuclear facilities contribute nearly $9 billion to the state’s economy annually, with Clinton contributing $13 million in property taxes annually. The greatest impact in Illinois is on the professional, scientific and technical sectors due to the volume of specialized services required to operate a nuclear energy facility.

Clinton also supports 2,100 direct and secondary jobs in Illinois. The facilities’ output also stimulates Illinois’ labor income and employment.

Community Involvement

Clinton aims to be a good neighbor and is active in the local community.

  • Sponsorship: The facility sponsors several community events, including a series of free summer concerts in Clinton. It also sponsors youth sports teams.
  • Employee Giving & Volunteerism: The center provided more than $100,000 in direct financial support to a wide range of area civic organizations, activities and events in 2018, including employee pledges to the United Way through Exelon’s annual campaign. The plant also sponsors blood drives throughout the year, helping local hospitals. The center's Women In Nuclear Committee runs food, toy and fund drives to support various community groups and agencies.
    • The Vault Youth Center: Clinton Clean Energy Center employees donated over $10,000 in 2018 to help with renovations to a former retail space on the Clinton downtown square. The Vault was nominated as the Clinton Clean Energy Center Charity of Choice for 2017 and continues to be supported through many volunteer hours from CPS employees.
    • Land of Lincoln Honor Flight: Clinton Clean Energy Center employees raised more than $18,000 for the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight program in 2018 through site raffles, fundraising events and individual donations. With many veterans of the Armed Forces working at the center, employees also donated more than $25,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project through individual pledge cards.
    • DeWitt County Museum: Clinton Clean Energy Center helps to sponsor the annual Apple & Pork Festival in Clinton. This event showcases the rich agrarian history of Clinton and DeWitt County.  With Clinton Clean Energy Center’s help the museum was able to pay for the sound stage which provided entertainment to the 100,000 visitors over the two day festival.
  • Employee Giving and Volunteerism: Clinton Clean Energy Center and its employees donate more than $250,000 to area non-profits through the Employee Giving Campaign and site Charitable Contributions.

Generating More Low-Carbon Electricity

Nuclear energy is by far the largest clean-air energy source and the only one that can produce large amounts of electricity around the clock. In 2018, Clinton generated 8.4 million megawatt-hours of carbon free electricity, which is the equivalent of removing 1.3 million average passenger vehicles from our roads.

Environmental Steward

  • Greening Our Operations: Clinton Clean Energy Center’s Right of Way Restoration/Pollination Projects involved the planting of native grasses in the 65-acre grassland area below the Ameren transmission lines as a habitat for pollinators native to Illinois.  This was a joint project with Ameren, Pheasants Forever of DeWitt County & Exelon Clinton Clean Energy Center personnel.   Additionally, 2 acres of public area in front of the Mascoutin State Park Office have been planted with a high yield pollinator mix seed.  This is all part of a 5-year station pollinator plan.   
  • Clinton Lake Management and Fish Stocking Program:  Clinton Clean Energy Center invests annually to restock Clinton Lake with Hybrid Striped bass, Walleye, Blue Catfish and crappie. The center maintains a working relationship with Illinois Department of Natural Resources to rear fish in a pond near the lake for release into Clinton Lake.  The partnership ensures the lake has a healthy fish population and thriving ecosystem. 
  • Gold Certification for Wildlife Habitat Council:  The National Wildlife Habitat Council awarded Clinton Clean Energy Center the Gold Level Certification. This certification honors the environmental stewardship of the center, recognizing the center's commendable wildlife habitat management and demonstrates its commitment and signifying leadership to environmental stewardship.

Committed to Safety

Clinton Clean Energy Center, like all U.S. nuclear energy facilities, is based on a “defense-in-depth” design, which means there are redundant layers of safety. There are multiple layers of safety systems to provide water to the reactor core. These safety systems, and their backup safety systems, are powered by multiple and redundant power sources. Nuclear energy plants are built with multiple physical barriers, including thick, steel-reinforced concrete walls around the reactor to contain radioactive materials.

Our employees are personally committed to safety. They are highly-skilled workers and continually receive training to make our safe work practices even safer. We have a culture of continuous learning and implement lessons learned from operating experience to continue to operate safe nuclear energy facilities. Each employee has 100 percent accountability. We welcome strict, daily oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We work with the NRC to ensure that all regulations are complied with - and exceeded.

Emergency Planning

Clinton employs a sophisticated emergency response plan to protect public health and safety approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the state of Illinois. The emergency plan includes coordination with local counties, municipalities and school districts.