BYRON, Ill. (AP) — Exelon said it will close two of its nuclear plants in northern Illinois next year.

The closures of Byron Generating Station and the Dresden Generating Station are expected to cause the loss of up to 1,400 jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue. Christopher Crane, president and CEO of Exelon, said in a news release Thursday that shutting down the plants is “necessary to preserve even more jobs elsewhere.”

The Rockford Register Star reports that in addition to employing more than 1,500 people full time, the two plants also make charitable contributions to the two communities.