Nuclear Illinois: Past, Present, & Future

Very few people know that nearly all of Chicago’s electricity at any given moment is carbon-free. Even fewer realize this has been the case for over 40 years. The reason is nuclear power.

Illinois has always lived on the frontier of energy. The world's first interconnected electrical grid was built here. The first controlled nuclear chain reaction was demonstrated under the stands of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago. And some of the nation's earliest commercial reactors, which are still running today, made it possible to build the all-electric John Hancock Center, the largest building of its kind in the world. Today, Illinois generates more nuclear power than any other state in the country.

Nuclear Illinois: Past, Present, & Future will start with a presentation given by three nuclear energy experts followed by a Q&A. They will explore the history that got us here, the present it built, and what's possible as we enter the next era of power. The following speakers will speak at the event:

• Madison Hilly — Co-founder and Managing Director of Radiant Energy Group, a research and advisory firm focused on nuclear energy. For nearly a decade, she has worked to educate the public, policymakers, and journalists around the world about nuclear power. • Mark Nelson — Chief of Staff at The Nuclear Company, which is working to build the next fleet of nuclear plants in America. He pairs training in nuclear engineering with a deep knowledge of energy history to tell the story of how nuclear came to be. • Dr. Roger Blomquist — Former Principal Nuclear Engineer at Argonne National Laboratory. His career spans serving aboard nuclear submarines in the U.S. Navy, conducting cutting-edge reactor research for the Department of Energy, and teaching the public about nuclear energy.

Accessibility

Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email [email protected] to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.

“ Perry Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1 ” by Nuclear Regulatory Commission , CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 , via Flickr