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| Fig. 1: Top 15 states producing nuclear power in the United States in 2022. Illinois is the leading state at 98,870 GWh. [3] (Image Source: K. Kang.) |
Since nuclear energy started to become a prominent source of energy within the mid- 20th century, Illinois has been able to emerge as a pivotal player in harnessing nuclear fission to allow energy production within the United States. Nuclear reactors are powered through the sequence of nuclear fission which begins when a neutron collides with a uranium atom, causing the atom to split and release additional neutrons. This process turns into a chain reaction which liberates an immense amount of energy that is used to heat water and generate steam, driving turbines and generating electricity within power plants. Illinois stands at the forefront of the nuclear energy sector in generating capacity as well as annual electricity generation. [1]
In the midst of World War ll, in early 1942, the first nuclear reactor was under construction at the University of Chicago, most commonly known as Chicago Pile-1. [2] Researchers found this location to be highly useful due to the control rods containing cadmium which is a metallic element that absorbs neutrons. Due to the success of nuclear energy in the war, Congress passed the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1946. Once this committee was established, the construction of additional nuclear reactors had been set into motion. [2]
Illinois continues to reinforce its position as the foremost producer of nuclear energy in the United States with an impressive 99,870 GWh generated in 2022 (see Fig. 1). [3] The state produces a little over an eighth of the nations total utility scale facility net generation from nuclear energy of 771,537 GWh. [3] In addition to leading nuclear energy generation in the states, Illinois reduces CO2 emissions as well as other pollutants by continuing efforts to meet carbon reduction targets, as well as showcasing the environmental benefits of maintaining nuclear power as one of the states leading energy sources. The 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act supports two of the six nuclear power plants in Illinois, compensating them for their future contributions to the environment. [1]
Illinois remains at the forefront of nuclear energy operations within the United States, starting from the groundbreaking experiments at Chicago Pile-1 to its current status as a nuclear power behemoth. The state has created a lasting legacy of innovation and foresight in the space of nuclear energy and has remained committed to a sustainable and secure energy future with its technological prowess. With their multifaceted approach towards energy consumption and production, they are ensuring the states economic vitality as well as its environmental stewardship.
© Kyle Kang. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.
[1] D. Murphy and M. Berkman, "The Impacts of Illinois Nuclear Power Plants on the Economy and the Environment," Brattle Group, September 2019.
[2] B. A. Steeves, "Chicago Pile-1 Paved the Way for Nuclear Science and a Lab in Los Alamos. First Self-Sustaining Nucleaer Chain Reaction Was Nearly 80 Years Ago," Los Alamos National Laboratory, LA-UR-21-31539, November 2021.
[3] "Electric Power Monthly, February 2023," U.S. Energy Information Administration, February 2023, Table 1.9.B.