LaSalle Generating Station, located in rural LaSalle County in Northern Illinois, about 75 miles southwest of Chicago. The station is built on a 3,055 acre site with a 2,058-acre man-made cooling lake, which is also a popular fishery managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Its Units 1 and 2 began commercial operation in August 1982 and April 1984, respectively. Both of LaSalle's units are boiling water reactors designed by General Electric.
LaSalle's Unit 1 is capable of generating 1,138 net megawatts, while Unit 2 is capable of generating 1150 net megawatts. Together the units can produce enough power to support the electricity needs of more than two million average American homes.
LaSalle's Site Vice President is Dave Wozniak. The Plant Manager is Dave Rhoades.
Emergency Planning:
LaSalle employs a sophisticated emergency plan to protect public health and safety. This plan is approve by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the state of Illinois. The emergency plan includes coordination with local counties, municipalities and school districts.
Supporting the Local Economy:
LaSalle has approximately 800 employees and the majority of its employees live in LaSalle and Grundy counties. The station's annual payroll is about $56 million. Additionally, during refueling outages, LaSalle employs several hundred specialty workers, who boost the local economy during their stay.
Community Involvement:
For 2007, station employees have pledged more than $180,000 to the United Way through Exelon's annual campaign. In 2006, the station provided more than $30,000 in direct financial support to a wide range of area civic organizations, activities and events, including:
The Illinois River Area Chamber of Commerce
The United Way of Eastern LaSalle County Labor of Love
Grundy Community Hospice
McKinley Elementary School
LaSalle County Pheasants Forever
Ottawa High School Educational Foundation
Marseilles Fun Days
Seneca SummerFest
Oakland Park School
Illinois Valley Anti-Drug Coalition
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