Dresden Generating Station, located in rural Grundy County in Northern Illinois, is home to the nation's first full-scale, privately financed nuclear power plant, which began operation in 1960. Capable of generating 210 megawatts of electricity before its retirement in 1978, Dresden Unit 1 is designated a Nuclear Historic Landmark by the American Nuclear Society.
Dresden Units 2 and 3 began commercial operation in June 1970 and November 1971, respectively. In October of 2004, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed the operating licenses for both units for an additional 20 years, extending them to 2029 and 2031. Both units contain boiling water reactors designed by General Electric. Unit 2 is capable of generating 869 megawatts of electricity, while Unit 3 is capable of generating 871 megawatts. Together, the units can produce enough power to support the electricity needs of more than 1 million average American homes.
Dresden’s Site Vice President is Tim Hanley. The Plant Manager is Shane Marik.
Emergency Planning:
Dresden employs a sophisticated emergency response plan to protect public health and safety. Both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the state of Illinois approved the Dresden Emergency Plan. The plan includes coordination with local counties, municipalities and school districts.
Supporting the Local Economy:
Dresden has about 700 Exelon employees. Most of Dresden's employees live in Grundy and Will Counties. The station's annual payroll is about $55 million. Additionally, during refueling outages, Dresden employs several hundred temporary contractors, who boost the local economy during their stay.
Exelon pays local real estate taxes totaling about $20 million every year to support county and township government, area schools, libraries, park districts and other taxing bodies.
Community Involvement:
Dresden's goal is to be a good neighbor and is active in the local community. The station sponsors several community events, including the Grundy County Corn Festival Fireworks. Dresden also sponsors area youth sports teams and provides funding to a variety of charitable and civic organizations and causes.
Dresden employees give generously to the community through a variety of volunteer activities. Employees donate about $200,000 annually to the local United Way campaign. The station also sponsors blood drives during the year, helping blood banks meet the needs of area hospitals.
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