Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa), left, and Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) hold a news conference Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Illinois is nearly ready to lift the 1980s-era ban on the construction of new nuclear energy reactors after the House passed legislation on Thursday to lift the ban that now goes to Gov. JB Pritzker, who is expected to sign it.