Illinois Energy Bill’s Critics Threaten $700 Million Exelon Deal

Illinois environmentalists split with labor groups and the state’s renewable-energy industry on Monday and announced their opposition to a comprehensive energy legislative package, jeopardizing continued operation at two Exelon Corp. nuclear power stations.

The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, a collection of dozens of state and federal environmental groups, opposes the 980-page bill and amendment published Monday. The group claims it allows coal and natural-gas fired power plants to operate in perpetuity if they deploy emissions-reduction technologies, which the coalition says are unproven.

“Continuing to burn coal forever is not consistent with a livable climate. It is not consistent with ...