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. Each unit is capable of generating 912 megawatts of electricity, which together can produce enough power to support the electricity needs of over 1 million average American homes.