The Illinois bill, known as the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, passed the Senate on Monday in a 37-17 vote and was signed by the Governor, J.B. Pritzker 2 days later.

The bill sets a goal for Illinois of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050. The bill requires coal plants to shut down by 2030 and natural gas plants to shut down by 2045. The bill also creates a coal to solar program to transition coal plants to renewable energy facilities.

The bill will also provide subsidies over the next 5 years for three of Exelon’s nuclear plants, Braidwood, Byron, and Dresden.  Exelon had said it would close its Byron plant on September 13th, the Dresden plant in November, and that its Braidwood plant was also at risk.

The closure of the plants, in turn, would have thrown into disarray Illinois’ drive to decarbonize its electric grid, with nuclear plants producing more than 50% of Illinois’ electric power. 

“This new policy offers a better future for the employees who have run these plants … the plant communities … and all Illinoisans eager to build a clean energy economy that works for everyone,” said Christopher Crane, president and CEO of Exelon, in a press release.