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95th Edition
This Week on Landon’s Loop:
☢️ Two New Illinois Nuclear Bills
📆 Events Around the City
🔙 Highlights from Last Week:
We cohosted our third Product Invitational with ZoCo Design, bringing together 24 of Chicago’s top product leaders—CTOs, VPs, and CPOs. 👇🏽
Took a few of our early-stage founders out for a great conversation over dinner. 👇🏽
My partner Cameron visited Chicago to talk about areas he’s looking to invest in like AI-enabled cybersecurity and data infrastructure. 👇🏽
We welcomed a new team building AI patients for healthcare training. We're hiring full-stack engineers to help us develop an AI patient simulation platform—if that sounds interesting, let me know. 👇🏽
☢️ Two New Illinois Nuclear Bills
Illinois continues to lead in energy innovation, and two newly introduced bills could shape the future of nuclear power in the state.
Recognizing SMRs (Senate Bill 1538)
The first bill would amends the Renewable Energy Production District Act to classify small modular reactors (SMRs) as renewable energy facilities.
Previously, Illinois only recognized wind, solar, and hydropower as renewable energy sources.
SMRs, advanced nuclear reactors with a maximum output of 300 MW, now join that list, allowing municipalities and energy providers to invest in nuclear under their renewable energy initiatives.
The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
Lifting the Ban on Large-Scale Nuclear (Senate Bill 1527)
This bill hopes to remove the long-standing 1 GW cap on nuclear plant construction in Illinois.
It would eliminate a provision requiring federal waste management solutions before new large-scale nuclear plants can be built.
Utilities must still get approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission by proving new plants are necessary, cost-effective, and beneficial to the energy grid.
With Illinois already home to the largest nuclear fleet in the US, this bill paves the way for major investments in next-generation nuclear infrastructure.
What This Means for Illinois Energy
If passed, these bills could position Illinois as a national leader in nuclear energy expansion with significant benefits:
More Energy Independence – Advanced nuclear reduces reliance on out-of-state energy and fossil fuels.
Economic Growth – New projects drive investment, skilled job creation, and local economic development.
AI & Electrification Readiness – With data centers and electrification surging demand, nuclear offers a stable, carbon-free energy solution to power Illinois’ future.
Illinois has a chance to lead the next wave of clean energy innovation—these bills bring us one step closer. 🚀
📆 Events Around the City
mHUB Industry Disruptors - Matt Hulsizer & Jenny Just
Thursday
👋 See you next week!
Bullish on Chicago
— Landon (@landon20s)
4:50 PM • Feb 5, 2025