North Cook News

Brian Scopa, a Republican candidate for Illinois' 84th state representative district, has expressed concerns regarding the state's moratorium on nuclear plants. In an interview, he said that the ban impedes economic growth, increases costs, and undermines reliable energy.

"The moratorium on large-scale nuclear plants in Illinois is awful for economic growth," said Scopa. "keeps reliable power supply from our strained grid. American nuclear energy is safe, it's the most reliable form of power generation. construction of new reactors would create thousands of high-paying middle class jobs for years during construction and for decades while in operation."

Illinois has prohibited new large-scale nuclear plants since 1987 unless a federal waste solution is found. However, lawmakers have recently taken steps to ease this restriction. According to Capitol News Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker vetoed a repeal in 2023 but later signed HB 2473 in December of that year. This legislation permits small modular reactors (SMRs) of up to 300 megawatts while maintaining the ban on traditional plants. The measure took effect in June 2024 and positions Illinois for potential SMR deployment in the 2030s.

Nuclear power continues to be Illinois’ largest source of electricity. The state's six reactors produced approximately 54% of total net generation in 2023 and provided roughly 79% of Illinois’ carbon-free energy, making it the leading nuclear generator in the nation. The Nuclear Energy Institute reports that the industry supports about 4,100 direct jobs with above-average wages.

Building new nuclear plants could significantly boost employment and economic growth. The Nuclear Energy Institute indicates that constructing a single large reactor can create up to 9,000 peak construction jobs, while ongoing operations typically offer between 500 and 800 permanent on-site positions. These figures highlight the economic implications as Illinois considers future nuclear expansion.

Scopa is running for Illinois’ 84th House District in the March 2026 primary. Filing documents indicate he is based in Naperville and is seeking the GOP nomination for this suburban seat. His campaign focuses on fiscal responsibility and state governance reform, according to official DuPage County Republican Party records.

The district covers parts of Aurora, Naperville, Oswego, and Montgomery in Chicago's western suburbs. It is currently represented by Democrat Stephanie Kifowit, who has held the seat since 2013. While recent elections show a Democratic lean, Ballotpedia notes that it remains competitive within suburban politics.