CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says legislation that provides billions of dollars in subsidies to power giant Exelon Corp. is imperfect but that he’s “proud” of the deal lawmakers reached.

The measure approved Thursday provides $235 million per year to Exelon to keep unprofitable nuclear plants running in Clinton and the Quad Cities. More than 4 million customers of power-distributing subsidiaries ComEd and Ameren will pay more to finance the plan.

Rauner has previously blasted “special deals” for corporations. On Thursday he vetoed additional state money for Chicago Public Schools, calling it a “bailout.”

The Republican, who’s expected to sign the Exelon bill, said Friday that Clinton and the Quad Cities communities would have been “devastated” if those plants closed.

He also says subsidies are “endemic” in American energy policy.