Board member urges Vermilion County to study small modular reactors as firms expand in region

During board comments, a speaker identified as a reverend presented material on small modular reactors (SMRs) and recent industry activity and urged the county to create a study committee to evaluate potential siting and economic-development opportunities.

The speaker cited a handout from Jonathan Pinkerton that referenced an Eli Lilly letter of intent in Indiana related to SMRs and broader infrastructure planning. He warned that if neighboring states pursue SMR siting and the county does not engage, "we will have none of the revenue from it. The bad news is we'll have none of the jobs from it," he said.

The speaker recommended the board refer the matter to a committee for study and possible future action so Vermilion County would not forfeit potential long-term economic benefits. Several board members signaled support for moving the issue forward for study; the transcript records a call to prepare a resolution to refer the matter and suggested further vetting by the chair’s office.

Why it matters: SMR deployment is emerging as a regional economic-development issue with potential implications for tax base, jobs and energy supply. The discussion flagged interjurisdictional competition and noted that private-sector agreements in adjacent states could affect Vermilion County’s service area and future revenue capture.

Next steps: A referral to study the issue was proposed; staff or a committee would need to define scope, legal constraints and potential local impacts before the board considers any formal incentives or siting positions.